Energy Case Studies Flashcards
X3 factors a transition from traditional to modern energy is controlled by;
- energy availability
- energy affordability
- cultural preferences
Why is traditional energy more affordable than modern energy?
biomass / wood readily available or free in rural areas
example of cultural preferences in energy supply
wood fires over electric fires in the UK
Low development tend to use what fuel for heating / cooking
biomass
Mid development tend to use what fuel for heating / cooking
biomass or coal
High development tend to use what fuel for cooking / heating
gas, electricity or oil
Aluminising can recycling can save what % of the energy it takes to process aluminium?
saves 95% of energy
Energy efficiency is enforced in some areas via …
green legislation or green taxation
Disadvantage of polluter pays principle;
- taxes may not be spent on improving things
Taxing humans advantage;
- could be spent on public transport or healthcare
Disadvantage of subsidising petrol for people people;
- promotes excessive production or usage
e. g two cars - likely to increase pollution
= low air quality / congestion - large % of spending on fuel rather than on health / public transport etc.
X4 economic costs associated with extracting oil;
- high extraction cost
- technical difficulties, esp. in unconventional sources
- possibility of peak oil approaching (infrastructure sees less return)
- disputed areas e.g Arctic - mass funding to fund research / legal cases
X3 reasons why consumption of energy may increase in industrialising nations?
- mass transport / car ownership increase
- economic growth prioritised over green issues
- increase in power capacity incentivises increased consumption
What may influence energy sources chosen by HIC countries?
- green priorities
- international pressure to address climate change e.g Paris Climate Conference 2015
- $$$ investment in green tech
- need to find greater energy security
Morocco has increased its solar capacity, what is the name of its mega project?
Noor 1
What type of tech does Morocco’s Noor 1 use?
mirror technology (500,000 mirrors) not photovoltaic
What is an advantage of mirror technology over photovoltaics?
mirror tech can be used to generate energy even when the sun sets
What fraction of Morocco’s energy is to be powered by solar by 2020?
1/3
What plan to transport solar energy to Europe was dropped in 2013?
Desertec
Previously before Noor 1 Morocco imported what % of its energy?
94%
What X4 fuel reserves are found in Russia?
- uranium
- coal
- gas
- oil
Russia has the largest reserve in the world of what fossil fuel?
natural gas
In terms of global coal reserve volume, where does Russia rank?
2nd overall
Where does Russia rank in terms of global uranium supply?
10th overall
Is the country energy secure?
Yes highly secure
Where is Russia’s largest market for gas? What is happening to this market?
Europe
market decreasing as Europe seeks alternative sources and to decrease reliance on Russia
What type of case was launched by the European Commissioner against Russia? When was this launched?
anti-trust case against Gazprom
2012
China produced what % of global coal in 2007?
41.1%
What is China doing to the coal market?
flooding the coal market with its supply
causing decline of coal industries elsewhere
Coal supplied what % of China’s consumption in 2012?
66%
HEP accounts for what % of China’s energy production?
16%
How large are China’s reserves? Will they be able to cope with demand?
not large enough to be highly energy secure
not diverse enough
20% of China’s oil needs are met by where?
Saudi
What fraction of global oil demand has CHian been responsible for since 2000?
1/3
Where has China invested in to increase its energy security? How much was invested?
$10billion investment into Nigerian oilfields
What area / environment has physical properties which are not advantageous for wind?
central Africa and around the equator
mountainous areas don’t work well with turbines
What geographical area has the greatest potential for solar radiation?
areas contained between the X2 tropics
Where is there high levels of solar radiation which would be inappropriate to utilise?
above the Pacific
In 2035 what % of its oil will China be importing?
85%
In 2035 how much will China be spending annually on imported oil?
$400billion
To increase energy efficiency what is one of the 7 new pillar industries identified in CHina’s current 5 year plan?
electric vehicles
When did China’s doors become ‘open’ to overseas investment?
1986
Since 1980 what duration has China’s economy doubled every…
doubled every 8 years
What % of global oil reserves does China control?
only 3%
Until when was China self-sufficient in oil?
1993
Surge in electricity demand in China in 2002 led to what? what does this show about China’s energy security?
led to blackouts
shows they have limited energy security
X2 main reasons for growth in Chinese energy demand;
- rural-urban migration
- agriculture
When did China become an urbanised nation?
2010
What % of China’s energy consumption does agriculture use?
71%
By 2030 what is China’s car ownership per 1,000?
267 per 1,000
in 2002 what was CHina’s car ownership per 1,000?
under 20 per 1,000
what % of china’s energy consumption goes into transportation?
under 10%
What natural disaster damaged much hydroelectric potential by collapsing dams in China?
Sichuan province EQ in 2008
X3 factors leading to poor Chinese energy security;
- much of energy imports go through Straight of Malaca
- low levels of diversity
- lack of energy efficiency
X5 things China has done to improve energy security;
- electronic vehicles one of X7 new ‘pillar industries’
- increasing diversity (e.g production of cheap photovoltaic cells)
- upgrading military air strip to protect supplies
- plans to build HEP on all major rivers
- Chinese companies get guidance of which countries to invest in
Short term impacts of increased energy demand in China x3
- increase in energy prices
- health issues - respiratory problems
- greater dependency on foreign imports
Long term impacts of increased energy demand in China x4
- long-term debt
- global warming
- peaking reserves and declining production
- may go into exploiting vulnerable habitats
e. g Tarim Basin
Vulnerable ecosystem in China rich in energy reserves which China may exploit to increase energy security
Tarim Basin
What % of Japan’s energy is imported?
80%
What % of Japan’s energy is nuclear?
35%
Risks to energy security in N.America; X4
- power of environmental lobby + agreements to control emissions
- proliferation risks from commercial nuclear power
- vulnerability of infrastructure to terrorist attack
e. g Panama canal “choking point” - geopolitical tensions in Asia
What has been happening to crude oil production in the USA since 1990?
declining
What has been happening to natural gas production in the USA since 1990?
increasing
although supply still less than demand
What is the relationship between coal production and demand in the USA?
production in 2010 was X2 greater than demand
All of NAFTA has net exports in what fossil fuel?
Natural gas
In Canada when did oil production outstrip demand?
2000
When did extraction of oil from Canadian tar sands begin?
1960
When were the ‘tortilla riots’ in Mexico?
2007
What were 2007’s tortilla riots in Mexico over?
rising fuel prices of 40% due to selling biofuel maize crops to the USA (2006-2008)
What do China and Russia share political interest over?
US military presence in Asia-Pacific
What would the ESPO reduce Japanese dependence on middle eastern oil by?
10-15%
What would the ESPO deliver? From who to where?
Would deliver Russian oil to Japan and China
What would be notable about the ESPO?
would be the longest most extensive pipeline ever built
There are multiple reasons for pathway disruption, name X4 human causes;
- price and payment disputes
- piracy
- terrorism / conflict at choking points
- political discord between transit states + supplier
There are multiple reasons for pathway disruption, name X4 physical causes;
- natural disasters
- producer’s supply becoming exhausted
- subsidence under pipelines (e.g Alaska)
- technical disruption
Name a choking point which is a hub for energy transfers;
give an example of piracy here
Gulf of Aden
Irene SL containing 20% of a day of oil imports for USA was seized
= losses of $125million
Example of conflict resulting in terrorist activity on energy infrastructure;
- Abqaiq, Saudi oil refinery (2006)
= 75% of Saudi’s total output - Niger Delta Conflict
pipelines of Shell / Exxon being broken by militia = causing leaking oil
