Energy KQ1 Flashcards
Define Energy Mix?
The relative contribution/availability of energy sources for a countries production and/or consumption. This varies a lot between country to country
What is global energy mix now?
Oil - 23% Gas - 24% Coal - 23% Nuclear - 5% HEP - 6% Other renewables - 2%
Which energy types get their source from the moon?
Tidal
Geothermal
Magnetism
Which energy type get their sources from the earth?
Nuclear
Which energy type get their sources from the sun?
Solar
Which energy types get their sources from the atmosphere?
Wind
HEP
Which energy types get their sources from the photosynthesis of plants?
Ethanol/alcohol Biomass Coal Oil Gas
Is the world energy consumption increasing or decreasing?
Increasing but not everywhere
Which sources of energy supply to the most worldwide?
Coal
Oil
Gas
What is the energy consumption like in Asia compared to the Middle-East?
Asia uses more Gas (10% - 2%) and Middle East uses more Oil (50% - 30%)
Define proven oil reserves?
Quantities of oil that geological and engineering information indicates with reasonable certainty can be recovered in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions
Define reserves to production ratio?
The reserves remaining at the end of any year divided by production = length of time remaining in reserves
Define supply shock?
A significant interruption to supply due to an environmental, economic or political event
Define OPEC?
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Define Peak Oil Production?
The year in which the world or a country reaches their highest point of production - declines after
What are the physical reasons that affect the variation in energy supply?
Deposits of fossil duels only found in certain locations
Large power station require plat land that is geographically stable
HEP requires high precipitation major steep sided valleys and impermeable rock
Wind needs reasonable wind throughout the year and solar need high levels of sun
What are the economic reasons for the variations in energy supply?
Most accessible low cost deposits of fossil fuels are developed first
Energy prices increase - companies expenditure increases on exploration and development
In LEDCs foreign investment is vital
On shore deposits of oil and gas is cheaper than off shore
What are the political reasons for the variations in energy supply?
Kyoto protocol - big influence in energy decisions of countries
Legislation regarding emissions will favour use of low sulphur coal as opposed to normal coal
HEP schemes on international ricers require agreement of countries that share it
Govt. insist that energy companies produce a certain amount of energy from renewable sources
State some reasons for the change in energy consumption over time?
Technological developments - nuclear available, gas and oil got from deeper
Increasing wealth - living standards increasing
Change in price - relative prices determined by demand
Environmental - public opinion can influence decisions
Which countries have decreased their energy consumption?
Japan
Germany
UK
Which countries have increased their energy consumption?
USA Russia China India Brazil S. Korea Australia France
What is primary oil recovery?
Recovery occurs with drilling and the oil gushes out naturally - due to the pressure it is under
Usually recovers up to 15% of the oil that is underground
What is secondary oil recovery?
Recovery occurs when pumping takes place
Recovers about 20-40%
What is tertiary oil recovery?
The oil that is left after primary and secondary is too thick meaning that technology from tertiary recovery is needed
Bring up the percentage to 40-60%
What is 50% of oil used for?
Transport
How much oil is left in the ground?
Oil resources - total quantity of hydrocarbons that are underground - including those that are not economically feasible to extract or. Are still undiscovered
Oil reserves - the amount of oil that. Is economically viable to extract
Define peak oil?
The point at which oil production has reached a maximum worldwide and will be followed by decline
What are the alternatives to oil?
Biofuels - maize, sugar or palm oil can be turned into fuels - push food prices up and could lead to global hunger
Advanced recovery of oil:
Thermal recovery - heating oil under the ground to make it less viscous or a vapour
Chemical recovery - injecting substances into oil reserves in order to detach oil from the rocks
Biological recovery - injecting microbes into oil reservoirs to help extraction
Explain Coal?
Most polluting energy source
Some countries still have large reserves of coal
China is the largest consumer of coal
Explain natural gas?
Least polluting energy source
Production is dominated by Russia and USA
Middle East holds large reserves but oil is more so they do not produce much gas
What is clean coal?
A coal power plants CO2 emissions are caught and scrubbed before they can escape and they are stored as a liquid
Arguments FOR clean coal?
It works it just needs more investment
Coal is cheap and usage is on the rise
In the UK this method will create jobs
Arguments AGAINST clean coal?
It is not a proven technology the storage of CO2 has not been tried on a big scale
It renews our dependence on carbon intensive energy
By the time it is fully developed the coal fired stations will have already harmed the environment
Which countries use the most nuclear energy?
USA - 20% of their electricity
France - 78% of their electricity
What are the advantages of nuclear energy?
0 GHG emissions
Once the station is built it is cheap(ish) to use
Efficient so can supply the masses
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?
Accidents can release radiation into air Concerns on how to store the waste Concerns of terrorist usage High cost to build Suitable locations already in use
Which countries use the most HEP?
China
Canada
Brazil
USA
What are the advantages of HEP?
Clean energy
Flood risk reduced downstream
Reduced reliance on imported ff
Smaller scale can provide small communities
What are the disadvantages of HEP?
Large areas of land need to be flooded Construction is expensive Disrupts wildlife Prevents fertile soil Suitable locations already in use
