Energy Flashcards
Definition of renewable
A flow of resources which is infinite in terms of humans
Definition of recyclable
Can be used repeatedly if managed carefully
Name the non-renewable energy sources
Coal, crude oil, natural gas
Name the renewable energy sources
Solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, geothermal
Name the recyclable energy sources
Biomass, nuclear
What is the percentage of crude oil usage across the word
36%
What is the percentage of coal usage across the word
27%
What is the percentage of natural gas usage across the word
23%
What is the percentage of hydroelectric usage across the word
6.3%
What is the percentage of nuclear usage across the word
5.9%
What is the percentage of other energy resources (wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal) usage across the word
1%
What is the energy issue at Canada and Alaska?
Reserves;questions of developing these in the Arctic, Antarctic and other sensitive areas
Where is the energy issue of dependency? (Wastefulness, lack of fossil fuel supply-energy insecurity)
Western Europe and USA
Where is there energy supply security? (Role of unstable regions in fossil fuel supply, link between nuclear power and weapons)
Russia
What energy issue do Africa face? (Except north of the Sahel region and South Africa)
Energy poverty-dependency on foreign TNC’s to exploit supply (Nigeria and Sudan)
Where has a huge energy supply but inefficient use? (Energy as political weapon)
Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran
What is the energy issue associate with India and China?
Rapidly growing demand, use of pollution sources such as high sulphur coal, health impacts, impact on global fossil fuel prices
Definition of non-renewable
A finite stock of resources which will run out
Disadvantages of using biofuels as an energy source
Relatively low energy densities mean limited potential for large scale electricity generation
Act as a carbon sink, so combustion releases stored CO2
Disadvantages of using coal as an energy source
Releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants which contributes to climate change and atmospheric pollution
Disadvantages of using geothermal as an energy source
Heather alchemy is the outer 10km of the earths crust so is too diffuse to be exploitable worldwide
Availability is limited to a few locations, e.g. Iceland, Philippines
Disadvantages of using natural gas as an energy source
Cost and security of supply are issues, especially for countries that are largely importers
Releases CO2 on use
Disadvantages of using hydro-electricity as an energy source
Large scale systems are costly to build
Dam-building has social, political and environmental impacts
Disadvantages of using nuclear as an energy source
Possible health risk associated with power plants and accidents such as Chernobyl
Disposal of radioactive material raises safety issues and there unknown long term risk
Disadvantages of using oil as an energy source
Concerns that global supplies may have reached their peak
Security of supply
Geopolitical tensions and lack of alternatives
Disadvantages of using solar as an energy source
Distribution and availability varies spatially and temporally
Photovoltaic technology still expensive compared with fossil fuels
Disadvantages of using tidal/wave as an energy source
Only certain locations are suitable for offshore tidal generation
Technology for large-scale generation is unproven
Disadvantages of using wind as an energy source
Only certain locations have enough wind to be viable
Wind energy is a variable power, so difficult to manage power supply through a grid system without backup
Kills birds
Where is coal found
More than 80% of the worlds coal reserves are located in just 10 countries
US has greater than 1/4
China is the biggest producer and consumer
Issues with using coal as an energy source
Releases CO2
Conflict
Peak production may hit in 2025
Where is oil found
Venezuela, Russia, Canada, Nigeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iran
Issues with using oil as an energy source
Conflict (Nigeria/Middle East)
Pollution-releases CO2
Demand for oil in Middle East means that the gulf states will have to spend $520 billion by 2030
Where is gas found
Russia, Iran, Qatar, Turkmenistan, America
Issues with using gas as an energy source
Releases CO2
Gas leaks
Uses lots of water in production
Definition of energy supply
Where energy comes from
Definition of energy demand
The desire or need for energy
Definition of energy consumption
The availability and use of energy
Definition of energy infrastructure
The built environment constructed for the exploration, development and production of energy and all the networks that transport energy from points of production to consumption
Definition of energy pathways
Supply routes between energy producers and consumers
Name some energy pathways
Ships, pipelines, cable under sea, coal carriers, oil tankers
What is the energy trend between 1965 and 2005
Overall energy consumption has increased in every energy type
Oil, coal and gas have increased the most, as well as being the highest to begin with
What is the energy trend in 2005
US have the highest energy demand for residential, commercial and agriculture (43%) as well as transportation (33%)
China has the highest energy demand for industry (71%)
Definition of energy security index
The extent to which a country may look forward to a reliable and affordable supply of energy
What is the availability
Domestic reserve per person/capita: amount/longevity of each country’s domestic oil and gas supplies, and the level of reliance of them
What is the intensity
Degree of dependably of gas/oil
What is the diversity
Range of energy sources in the mix
Why do the USA have a high risk
High importers of oil
Reserves not enough for large population
Do not have a range of energy resources-reply I’m non-renewables
Worried about high consumption
Why does Russia have a low risk
Lots of oil and gas reserves-self sufficient
Does not have to import energy sources
High land uninhabited- potential for wind energy source
Why do Brazil have medium risk
Self-sufficient in oil
45% of total energy consumption from renewable sources
Small diversity
Why do Mauritania have high risk
Have not found as much oil as they thought they would (found 3.2MT instead of 15.2MT)
Import oil
Oil is 60% of total energy consumption (transport uses 50% of all oil and electricity production 30%)
Underdeveloped/LIC
Name four energy supply pathways
Strait of Hormuz
Hey stone pipeline
ESPO
Trans Siberia pipeline
Strait of Hormuz
Oil via con trainer shipping
Iran-Persian Gulf
Iran have threaded to close the Strait of Hormuz several times in recent history
July 2009-Sirius Star, Japanese oil tanker, approached the Strait of Hormuz, heading to Japan. US navy diver said it was the victim of a failed stack by a suicide bomber piloting a waterborne I provided explosive device
Keystone pipeline
Oil via pipeline
Canada (tar sands) to the US
Environmentalists concerned with the environmental impacts of energy development and energy consumption
President Obama rejected the application amid protests about the pipelines impact on Nebraska’s environmentally sensitive Sand Hills region
TransCanada Corporation changed the original proposed route to minimise disturbance of land, water resources and special areas
ESPO
Oil via pipeline
Russia to China
November 2010-Minor shareholder of Transneft accused the company for US$4 billion embezzlement during he construction of the pipeline, but was denied by the Head of Transneft
Trains Siberia pipeline
Gas via pipeline
Russia to Ukraine, travelling through Germany, France and Italy
Russia believes Ukraine owes them £1.5 billion for the gas. In 2009 Russia switched off the gas supply to the Ukraine causing conflict between Russia and Ukraine
This would also cause or less with Western Europe as they could also be cut off from the gas supply
