Energy Security Flashcards
Which countries dominate coal production?
China = 45.5%
USA = 11.6%
India, Indonesia and Australia
What factors are coal extraction dependent on?
- Level of economic development
- Coal based energy strategy
Which countries dominate oil production?
Over 70% of the world’s oil production is in the Middle East, USA and Russia
- Middle East/Russia = conventional reserves
- Increasing unconventional reserves
What factors are oil extraction dependent on?
- Geology
- Climate
- Accessibility
- Geopolitics
How does geology affect oil extraction?
Specific conditions needed to concentrate oil into exploitable accumulations
How does climate affect oil extraction?
Permafrost reduces accessibility and economic viability
How does accessibility affect oil extraction?
Middle East - shallow and large reserves vs deepwater reserves along Brazilian coast
How does geopolitics affect oil extraction?
Unstable governments discourage TNC investment
Which countries dominate natural gas production?
Russia, Middle East, USA and Canada
Which countries dominate nuclear energy production?
HICs: lack of fossil fuels and have money to invest in infrastructure e.g. Japan and France
Which countries dominate renewable energy production?
China (HEP), India (wind/solar), Brazil (HEP and Bioethanol), EU and USA
Why is energy consumption increasing rapidly in Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs)?
- Rapid industrialisation
- Urbanisation
- Rising incomes > high standards of living
- Energy producing countries are using their energy wealth to promote development
Why is energy consumption stabilising in HICs?
- Already have high standard of living
- Increasing energy efficiency of appliances
- Energy-intensive industries are in decline due to global shift
- Population growth is stable
- Increased awareness of environmental impacts of energy use
Why has consumption of natural gas increased?
- Large discoveries in many countries
- Development of long gas pipeline connections
- Development of gas combined cycle technology for more efficient electricity generation
Who are the largest consumers of coal?
China, USA, Russia
Who are the largest consumers of oil?
USA, Japan, China, India, Russia
Who are the largest consumers of gas?
Iran, China, Japan, Canada
Who are the main importers and exporters of Oil?
Exporters: Middle East, Russia, Venezuela
Importers: USA and China
Who are the main importers and exporters of gas?
Exporters: Russia (pipeline to Europe and Asia)
Importers: Japan, Germany and Italy
Who are the main importers and exporters of coal?
Exporters: Australia
Importers: Germany, Uk and China
What % of global energy supply is made up of oil?
31%
What % of global energy supply is made up of coal?
29%
What % of global energy supply is made up of natural gas?
21%
What % of global energy supply is made up of nuclear?
6%
What % of global energy supply is made up of renewables?
12%
Why is oil the most traded fossil fuel?
- Uneven distribution : necessity of trade, need to source from multiple locations
- Operations of global energy TNCs
- Was a lack of alternative to oil based transport strategies
- Ease of transportation
Why are renewable energy resources not traded?
- Cannot store (transports difficult)
- Even distribution (countries can make their own)
What are the advantages of oil as an energy source?
- Indispensable in road transport and petrochemical industry
- LEading tradable commodity
- Flexible/easy to transport/trade
What are the disadvantages of using oil as an energy source?
- High price volatility
- Geopolitical tensions in areas with the largest reserves
- Market dominated by leading oil producing countries and TNCs
- Oil spills > significant environmental and human health impact
What are the advantages of using coal as an energy source?
- Wider geographical distribution
- New technologies improve environmental performance e.g. carbon sequestration
- Stable prices (more reliable)
What are the disadvantages of using coal as an energy source?
- High emissions of carbon particulates and other pollutants (worst fossil fuel)
- Dangers of production
- Environmental impacts of production - waste/spoil heaps etc
What are the advantages of using Natural Gas as an energy source?
- Cleanest of fossil fuels
- Flexible and efficient fuel for power and heat generation
- Increasing unconventional supplies (reassessment of speculative reserves and shale gas)