Consuming Energy Resources Topic 9 Flashcards
What affects the distribution of energy resources?
- access to energy is not even around the world
- some countries have become very rich because of their large reserves of fossil fuels
Why is energy resources uneven in geology?
- the fossil fuels are found in sedimentary rocks
- countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia have 48% of the worlds oil reserves and 43% of gas
- coal is widely distributed around the world
- there are large reserves in the USA, Russia and China
- countries on plate boundaries like Iceland have assess to vast amounts of geothermal energy
Why is energy resources uneven in the relief and climate?
- regions with high rainfall and relief are suitable for HEP as large volumes of water are needed
- climate is important because we use it for wind energy or solar power
- Areas that are exposed to high wind such as farm land and the London Array North Sea are good places to put wind turbines
- areas that are exposed to a lot of sunlight for example the Gobi desert is a good place to put solar panels
Why is energy resources uneven in the accessibility and development?
- the economic development of a region can influence its ability to invest in and use technology
- also explore for and develop energy resources
- an example would be Sub-Saharan Africa as they have a vast reserves of oil and gas but it’s mostly exported
What causes these variations in energy use?
Economic development
- energy is vital to help grow economies, powering industry, transport and information as well as heating and cooling buildings
Developed countries have high demands for energy also able to invest in technology, this can increase energy consumption - technology can help develop renewable industries for example solar as well as fossil fuels e.g. fracking
- many developing countries have limited access to energy resources
What causes these variations in energy use?
Economic sectors
- energy changes with economy and technology
- for example industry in the UK used 40% of energy and homes 24% in 1970
- where as by 2013 industry had declined to 21% as homes rose to 27%
- this meant better heating and more technology
What causes these variations in energy use?
Traditional fuel sources
- in rural areas in many developing countries traditional biomass fuels for domestic use are the main energy use
- for example in the Sub-Saharan Africa there is no direct electricity in many rural areas
What impact does extracting energy have on the environment?
- extracting and using energy is humans most significant impact
- there are local impacts such as pollution or global impacts of climate change
What is the ESPO?
- the East Siberian-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) is a 2600 mile long pipeline that began construction in 2006
- it was originally planned to carry oil from Russia to China, but Japan paies $7 billion to extend the pipe to the pacific
What is OPEC?
- the organisation of the petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) is an intergovernmental organisation for oil producers and exporters
How are attitudes changing?
Rising affluence
- although rising incomes increase demand on energy, they can also encourage alternative sources to be developed because people have more money to invest in new technology
How are attitudes changing?
Environmental concerns
- greater awareness of the impacts is leading to a worldwide shift in energy choice with greater urgency for sustainable energy sources to be developed
How are attitudes changing?
Education
- increasing people’s understanding of the impact of fossil fuels has led to more people wanting to reduce their carbon footprint
What are the costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels?
Wind energy
Disadvantages
- visual pollution, offshore transmission lines are expensive, 4 bird deaths per turbine
Advantages
- clean, no air pollution, cheapest source of energy to the consumer
What are the costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels?
Solar energy
Disadvantages
- take up farm land, made from toxic metals
Advantages
- creates 1000s of jobs, little maintenance once installed, no noise pollution
