ENERGY Flashcards
Describe and explain the trends in production, consumption and trade of energy.
Supply - Some countries produce lots of energy because they have large energy reserves and the money to exploit them. These include:
Iran and Saudi Arabia – Large oil reserves
China and Australia – large coal reserves
UK, Russia, Canada – large oil and gas reserves
USA, Indonesia – large coal, oil and coal reserves
Other countries produce little energy either because they don’t have resources or they are unable to exploit it because of a lack of money of political instability. For example
Angola is politically unstable
Spain only has small fossil fuel reserves
Consumption - There is a strong relation between GDP and energy consumption. Wealthy countries tend to consume lots because they can afford it and have access to electricity, heating and technology. Poor countries consume less energy as they can’t afford it and their lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption than in wealthier countries.
Trade - Some countries that don’t produce a lot but consume a lot because energy is traded between countries. Countries that produce more than they need export it to those who can’t. Canada, Saudi Arabia and Denmark are all large exporters of energy and Ireland, Italy, Spain and Japan are large importers. The Energy Pathway is the flow of energy from producer to consumer.
Describe and explain the trends in production, consumption and trade of energy.
Supply - Some countries produce lots of energy because they have large energy reserves and the money to exploit them. These include:
Iran and Saudi Arabia – Large oil reserves
China and Australia – large coal reserves
UK, Russia, Canada – large oil and gas reserves
USA, Indonesia – large coal, oil and coal reserves
Other countries produce little energy either because they don’t have resources or they are unable to exploit it because of a lack of money of political instability. For example
Angola is politically unstable
Spain only has small fossil fuel reserves
Consumption - There is a strong relation between GDP and energy consumption. Wealthy countries tend to consume lots because they can afford it and have access to electricity, heating and technology. Poor countries consume less energy as they can’t afford it and their lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption than in wealthier countries.
Trade - Some countries that don’t produce a lot but consume a lot because energy is traded between countries. Countries that produce more than they need export it to those who can’t. Canada, Saudi Arabia and Denmark are all large exporters of energy and Ireland, Italy, Spain and Japan are large importers. The Energy Pathway is the flow of energy from producer to consumer.
Energy - coal
In 2009 coal supplied 27% of global primary energy needs, reserves are widely distributed, all continents with the exception of South America have substantial reserves. The top five coal producers are China, the USA, India, Australia and South Africa. They account for nearly 80% of global production. China is by far the largest producer, responsible for 48% of global output in 2009. Global coal reserves have been estimated at 825 billion tonnes which at the rate of consumption in 2009 would last 120 years, however rate of consumption is rapidly increasing.
Coal is less transportable than oil and gas because of its large proportion of waste, solid physical state and lack of versatility.
Mining of coal depends on production costs which are influence by geographical conditions such as depth of deposits, thickness of coal streams, quality of coal, and degree of faulting. Deep mining is more expensive but thanks to cheap open-cast mining and low freight rates Australia is able to ship coal half way around the world to Europe and still undercut locally produced coal.
Energy - Oil
Oil is the leading fossil fuel, world production in 2009 was 3.82 billion tonnes concentrated in the Middle East (57% of proven reserves), OEDC countries and the former USSR.
Two of the largest producers, USA and China, cannot satisfy domestic demand and rely on imports. The EU and Japan also rely on imports as they has minimal resources. Crude oil is shipped in huge tankers so transport costs are low and distance from markets has little influence on production. The typical cost of transporting oil from the Middle East to the USA works out at 0.5 cents per litre.
Energy - Natural gas
Natural gas accounts for one-fifth of global primary energy production and is widely dispersed. In the past 30 years the production of gas has increase the most because reserves are large, gas is easier to transport and store and gas is cleaner and more environmentally acceptable.
It requires large investment in pipelines and storage facilities and many resources such as those in Siberia and North Africa are distant from consumers. As a result on 25% is traded internationally. Pipelines are vulnerable to war and sabotage in politically unstable countries such as the Middle East.
What are the changing patterns in the production of energy?
- Has increased in countries where new reserves have been discovered – Nigeria and Algeria
- Increase in places that have become more politically stable – Angola
- Production of energy has decreased in countries as resources are used up – North Sea oil production has declined since 1999 reducing production in the UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherland.
- Production often decreases in areas that become more unstable – Sudan’s production decreased due to civil war between 1983 and 2005.
What are the changing patterns in the consumption of energy?
- China has the largest and growing population, as standards of living and industrial output increase China consumes more energy
- Other Newly Industrial countries, e.g. India, Malaysia and Mexico are also using more energy as they develop
What are the changing patterns in the trade of energy?
- Exports from ex-soviet central Asian countries like Kazakhstan are increasing. These countries are attractive as suppliers to the EU, USA and China because the region is more stable than the Middle East and isn’t controlled by Russia, reducing dependence on these two areas.
- Brazil and Denmark were once heavily dependent on imports but are now both energy self-sufficient due to development of renewable energy and discoveries of domestic oil reserves
Explain the potential energy gap
gap between the amount of energy produced and consumed
• By 2030 demand is predicted to increase by 50%, electricity generation will double and nuclear power is set to increase
• The UK faces shortages as old power stations come to the end of their lives and north sea oil is used up
• Peak oil – point at which global oil production reaches its maximum level after which production will fall into sustained decline
Explain the potential energy gap
gap between the amount of energy produced and consumed
• By 2030 demand is predicted to increase by 50%, electricity generation will double and nuclear power is set to increase
• The UK faces shortages as old power stations come to the end of their lives and north sea oil is used up
• Peak oil – point at which global oil production reaches its maximum level after which production will fall into sustained decline
What is geopolitics?
Geopolitics is the study of ways which political decisions are processed to affect the use of space and resources, it’s the relationship between geography, economics and politics.
What is energy security?
Energy security is important because all countries are dependent on energy supplies. Global energy use is increasing and fossil fuel reserves are decreasing, possibly leading to an energy crisis. The largest oil and gas reserves are found in politically unstable areas such as Russia, which means that supplies can get disrupted. Therefore to secure a supply countries must ensure good relations and reach agreements on exporting and importing. As the North Sea oil runs out the EU have become more dependent on Russia for a supply of their natural gas. In 200 they started open talks with Russia but in return Russia wanted investment into production of fuel and better access to EU markets.
Concerns over energy security can sometimes lead to conflict or the threat of conflict. For example the 1980 Carter Doctrine stated by the USA that it would use military force if necessary to protect its interests in the Middle East and secure free movement of oil.
What is the Kyoto protocol?
The Kyoto protocol, signed and put into action in 2005, is an agreement by 192 parties to reduce carbon emissions by 2012. Further discussions have been made between countries who have agreed that there is a need to reduce carbon emissions by about 50%, however no official agreement has replaced the Kyoto protocol.
What role do TNCS play in world energy production and distribution?
Case study - ExxonMobil
- Oil and gas TNC based in the USA, operating in over 200 countries worldwide producing 3% of the world’s oil and 2% of its energy
- ExxonMobil explores for oil and gas in every continent except Antarctica, when found the oil is extracted and sent to refineries in the USA, Norway, Thailand or the UK for processing.
- After processing using their own transportation system to transport products to distribution centres who sell to customers such as CATERPILLAR and Singapore Airlines as well as individuals for transport fuel. `
What role do TNCS play in world energy production and distribution?
Case study - Gazprom
- Located in Russia and is the largest exported of natural gas to the UK
- The UK there has been 85% increase in the use of natural gas from Russia
- The pipeline to Europe goes to goes through Ukraine, disputes between Russia and Ukraine put risk on gas supply for Europe
What are the environmental impacts of fuel wood gathering? The Copperbelt, Zambia
A significant proportion of the world’s population use wood as an energy source usually to provide energy within a home, the gathering of fuel wood can damage the environment in several ways:
• Deforestation – most fuel wood gathering is not regulated and can seriously deplete woodland
• Habitat loss – destroy habitats of a wide range of wildlife
• Soil erosion – tree roots bind soil together, if trees are removed the soil can be washed away by rain or blown away by wind
The Copperbelt in Zambia is a densely populated industrial area that relies heavily of fuel wood. Between 1972 and 2000 and average of 3125 hectares of woodland were cleared each year for furl wood. Heavy tropical rains from November to April resulted in dramatic erosion of topsoil as there were fewer trees holding it together. This has left much land barren and unsuitable for agriculture, as well as preventing the re-growth of woodlands.
What are the problems with the use of fossil fuels? - Acid rain
Burning fossil fuels releases various gases, some of which dissolve in water vapour in the atmosphere which then falls as acid rain which can:
• Kill fish and aquatic life – reducing biodiversity
• Kills trees and other plant life – reducing biodiversity
• Reduces the nutrient content of soil so that some species can’t grow or grow slowly
• Corrode rocks – limestone and sandstone
What are the problems with the use of fossil fuels? - Global warming
Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide into the air. This enhances the planets natural greenhouse effect, increasing world temperatures and causing climate change which could lead to:
• Rising sea levels and increased flooding
• More frequent and severe extreme weather
• Habitat loss – animals cant adapt to the changing environments e.g. polar bears
What are the problems with the use of fossil fuels? - problems associated with mining
Coal mining involves disturbing or removing large areas of land which can lead to:
• Wildlife being displace
• Habitat loss
• Reduced air quality
• Contamination of surface water with acidic or toxic substances
What are the problems with the use of fossil fuels? - Oil spills
Oil spills happen when pipes, oil wells or tankers transporting oil leak, dumping oil onto land or into seas. The effect of an oil spill last for a long time and leads to the death of wildlife because :
• Oil reduces the ability of an animal to move freely making I difficult for them to swim, fly or forage
• Hypothermia, feathers and fur become coated in oil reducing an animals ability to control its own body temperature
• Consumption of oil
What are the problems with the use of fossil fuels? - Oil spills
Oil spills happen when pipes, oil wells or tankers transporting oil leak, dumping oil onto land or into seas. The effect of an oil spill last for a long time and leads to the death of wildlife because :
• Oil reduces the ability of an animal to move freely making I difficult for them to swim, fly or forage
• Hypothermia, feathers and fur become coated in oil reducing an animals ability to control its own body temperature
• Consumption of oil
Describe the possible exhaustion of fossil fuels.
It’s difficult to say whether fossil fuels will last because of uncertainty over new reserves or improvements in the efficiency of the use of fossil fuels which would increase the length of time we can depend on them.
A 2006 estimation of proven reserves suggested that worldwide there were:
• 1000 billion barrels of oil left – enough to last 40 years]
• 150 trillion cubic metre of natural gas left – enough to last 60 years
• 1000 billion tonnes of coal left – enough to last 250 years
However some of these may be in reserves that we have not yet got access to. Eventually fossil fuels will run out so an alternative energy source needs to be found.
How does nuclear power work and what are the advantages? Example
In nuclear power stations heat energy is released from uranium or plutonium to generate electricity. The first commercial nuclear reactor opened in 1956 and now there are 439 in 31 countries around the world. They supply 15% of the world’s electricity which is 6.3% of the total energy consumption.
Advantages
•Low carbon emissions
•Less toxic waste is released in to the environment
•Large amounts of energy from a small amount of fuel
•Electricity produced is cheap
Example - France - In France 78% of electricity is produced from nuclear power, France has the cleanest air of any industrial country and the cheapest electricity in Europe. Surrounding islands like Jersey in the Channel Islands depend on Frances nuclear power for electricity.
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power? - Example
• Nuclear waste is highly radioactive and has to be stored careful for thousands of years, this is very expensive. Some people argued that as technology improves this issue will be solved
• Accidents causing radioactive waste to leak into the environment can have devastating consequences – human and plant deaths, illnesses, destruction of local environment and contamination of land
• Limited amounts of uranium and plutonium so is non-renewable
• Decommissioning power stations at the end of their life is very expensive
Example - Chernobyl - In 1986 an explosion at the Chernobyl power station in Ukraine directly caused 56 deaths and radiation released caused thousands of deaths and illnesses. Radioactive material was detected as far away are Ireland, a 4km2 area of forest around Chernobyl died, food supplies were affected in Scandinavia for several years after the accident and it is still heavily contaminated today.
