energy mix

Question 1

Describe the factors which have shaped the UK’s energy mix

Answer 1

Physical availability: -Use of domestic coal until 1970’s, large reserves of north sea oil and gas discoveres which altered energy mix
Cost: -North sea oil is expensive to extract so if global prices fall it is not viable to extract -otherwise good alternative to dependacy of middle easter oil
Technology: -150 years worth of coal to extract however last coal mine is closed as its not technologically viable to extract profitabley
Political considerations: -reliance on foreign energy threatens energy security, -privatisation of energy supply means companies decide on energy sources for UK
Economic development: -GDP per Captia=$41k, annual energy cost per capita:$1300
Environmental priorities: -commited to reducing emmisions by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 -abandoned Green Deal conservation and insulation schemes -intends to broaden energy mix with nuclear energy

Question 2

Describe the factors which have shaped the Norways energy mix

Answer 2

Physical availability: Mountainous with steep valleys and rainfall, HEP is perfect -Oil and natural gas from natural supplies is exported
Cost: -Norsk Hydro runs 600+ HEP sites and supplies 98% of renewable energy, cheap to maintain after large start up cost, transfer of energy to rural expensive
Technology: Deepwater drilling technology enabled extraction of north sea reserves
Political considerations: -Strict nationalised interventionist government policy on energy, prevents private and foreign companies from taking control
Economic development: -GDP per capita: $62k -Annual energy costs: $2400
Environmental priorities: Commited to 60% reduction in emissions by 2030 from 1990 -Aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 -3rd largest exporter of hydrocarbons -More emission in 2015 than 1989

Question 3

What is energy mix and security ?

Answer 3

Collection of different sources used for a nations energy supply
Having acces to a reliable and affordble sources of energu to satisfy the demand of a country

Question 4

How energy secure is the UK

Answer 4

Coal: 15% Gas:40% Oil:32.5% (finite sources dissaproved my public)
19% decrease in use of Coal
3% increase in domestic nuclear power
31% increase in gas use
Abandoned Green Deal, less incentive to diversify energy mix
61% gas from Norwat and 24% from Quatar
50% of oil from Norway, 38% OPEC and 9% Russia
-Private companies control energy supply meaning little control over energy
NOT ENERGY SECURE and not in heading towards security

Question 5

How energy secure is Norway

Answer 5

40% domestic HEP, 33% domestic Oil, 20% Gas, 5% biomass + waste
-most of Gas and Oil is sold and profits are put into renewable energy schemes
-Interventionist government make sure they have full control of energy
-in 2015 Norway committed to 40% GHG emission reduction
-Aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, large incentive
Mostly Energy secure and heading in right direction

Question 6

Which factors contribute to a countries energy mix

Answer 6

• Physical availability
• Cost / affordability
• Technology
• Political considerations
• Level of economic development
• Environmental priorities