Energy Supply and Demand Flashcards
Global energy production is unevenly distributed
Some countries produce lots of energy because they have lots of natural resources to produce energy (e.g. coal, oil) and the money to exploit them. For example:
Iran, Saudi Arabia - large oil reserves.
China, Australia-large coal reserves.
UK, Russia, Canada - large oil and gas reserves.
USA, Indonesia - large coal, oil and gas reserves.
Some countries produce little energy because they have few resources or are unable to exploit their resources due to lack of money or political instability.
Angola - large oil reserves, but politically unstable and lacks money.
Spain-relatively wealthy, but small fossil fuel reserves.
Global energy consumption is unevenly distributed.
There’s a strong relationship between GDP and energy consumption:
Wealthy countries tend to consume lots of energy per person because they can afford to. Most people in these countries have electricity and heating, and use energy-intensive devices like cars. E.g. Sweden, USA.
Poorer countries consume less energy per person as they are less able to afford it. Less energy is available and lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption than in richer countries. E.g. Ghana, Mongolia
Climate-Physical factor
Hydroelectric power (HEP)-HEP relies on large flows of water to generate electricity In areas with low rainfall or frequent droughts, it cannot produce reliable power.
Climate also affects the production of non-renewable sources. For example, mines can become flooded and access roads impassable in areas with very high rainfall, and offshore oil rigs can be damaged by storms.
Geology-Physical factor-Coal
Coal is a sedimentary rock- it forms when plant material undergoes specific geological processes such as burial and heating. Coal that has undergone the most change is the highest quality (anthracite), while coal that has been changed least is the lowest quality (lignite).
Geology-Physical factor-Oil and natural gas
Oil and natural gas need specific geological conditions in order to form and be stored - when organic-rich rocks are buried, they are heated and compressed, and begin to break down into oil and gas. Gas forms at higher temperatures, often deeper underground, than oil. Both gas and oil travel upwards through pores in rocks, until they meet a layer of impermeable rock and become trapped-they are found where impermeable ‘cap’ rock (e.g. granite) overlies permeable ‘reservoir’ rock (e.g. sandstone).
Geology-Physical factor-Shale
Oil and natural gas can also form in shale-shale is impermeable, so it is difficult to extract oil and gas from it. A process called hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can be used to extract the fuel
Geology-Physical factor-Geothermal energy
Geology is also important for geothermal energy production - many geothermal power stations are located in places where the Earth’s crust is thin, so molten rock is close to the surface.
Drainage-Physical factor
The drainage network of a country (e.g. the number of rivers and the size and shape of drainage basins) affects the volume of energy that can be generated using hydroelectric power (HEP). To generate HEP, a dam is built across a river. Water flows through tunnels in the dam, turning turbines to produce electricity.
HEP generation is most effective if there is a large volume of water flowing consistently down the river, and a large drop in elevation from the reservoir to the water outlet. It, therefore, works best in drainage basins with large rivers and fairly steep terrain. However, steep terrain can make dam construction difficult or expensive.
Energy production and use affects relationships between countries
Countries that produce lots of a particular type of energy might form alliances, e.g. the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a group of countries that work together to influence the global supply and price of oil.
Because energy resources are unevenly distributed across the world, conflicts can arise between countries trying to obtain the resources they need.
A country’s financial situation or existing conflicts with other countries can reduce its ability to trade energy.
Geopolitical issues linked to energy production, trade and use
Global energy use is increasing, and fossil fuel reserves are decreasing. Many people believe we’re coming to an ‘energy crisis’, so governments are very concerned about how to secure energy supplies for the future.
Many of the largest reserves of oil and gas are in areas that are politically or economically unstable, e.g. Iraq. This means that energy supplies to many countries are at risk of being disrupted.
As energy consumption increases, so does the impact of energy use on the environment (see page 233). International agreements, e.g. the Kyoto Protocol, try to address these problems, but these can also lead to political conflict if environmental protection clashes with other national interests, e.g. economic growth.
