Carbon EQ2 Flashcards
What is energy security?
Uninterrupted availability of energy at a national level and at an affordable price- most energy secure is all energy from domestic sources
What are the four key aspects of energy security?
- Availability
- Accessibility
- Affordability- competitively priced energy supply
- Reliability-uninterrupted
What are the two ways consumption of energy is measured?
- Per capita-per person
- Energy intensity - per GDP- fewer units more efficiently country is using energy
What is a primary energy source of energy?
- Found in nature, not converted or transformed- renewable- wind/sunlight/water - non-renewable- coal/oil/gas
What is a secondary energy resources?
Derived from transformation of conversion of primary sources- electricity
What factors affect peer capita energy consumption?
- Physical ability
- Cost
- Standard of living
- Environmental priorities- for some it is cheapest route, others to increase reliance on renewables
- Climate-extra energy needed to make extreme heat or cold more comfortable
- Public perception
- Economic development
- Technology
How do France and USA’s energy mix differ?
France- 70% nuclear, not very energy secure, imports most primary fuel resources, smaller pop.
USA- 3/4 fossil fuels, self-sufficient, very energy secure, larger pop.
Who are the key energy players and what are their main roles?
-TNC’s- mostly state owned- involved in range of operations- exploring, extracting, transporting, refining and producing petrochemicals
-OPEC-14 member countries, 2/3 of oil and gas reserves- drive up oil and gas prices
Energy companies-convert primary to secondary energy and distribute it
Consumers- passive in fixing energy prices
Governments-guardians of national energy security and can influence sourcing of energy for geopolitical reasons
How has the UK’s energy mix changed?
Complete shift away from coal and other primary energy resources
More sustainable- Nuclear and renewables
What does increasing reliance on alternative sources of clean energy do?
Help to decouple economic growth from dependence on fossil fuels
What are the main sources of renewable energy today?
Hydro, wind, solar, geothermal and tidal
Why is it hard for some countries to use renewables?
- Development
- Not all countries have coasts, strong winds or long sunshine
- Environmental costs
What are positives of nuclear energy?
- No emissions
- Only small amounts of uranium needed
- No shortage of uranium
What are negatives from nuclear energy?
- Complex technology- developed
- Cost of constructing and decommissioning high
- Disposal of radioactive waste
- Risk to do with safety and security
