EQ2 Flashcards
primary energy
refers to natural energy resources that have not been converted into another form of energy
it incluldes non-renewable resources (fossil fuels - coal, oil, gas), nuclear (uranium) and renewable (e.g. hydro, solar, wind and biomass)
secondary energy
refers to what the primary source has been converted into, usually electricity
energy pathway
describes the flow of energy between a producer and a consumer and how it reaches the consumer (e.g. pipeline, transmission, ship, rail)
energy security
ensuring that energy supply meets current and future demand.
energy equity
ensuring accessible and affordable energy for all countries.
environmental sustainability
ensuring efficient use of energy and use of renewable sources, so reducing pollution and moving towards lower greenhouse gas emissions.
how are energy resources transported
- pipeline over land (oil and gas)
- bulk carrier ship (coal and uranium)
- tank ship (oil and LNG)
- underwater cables (electricity)
major players in the world of energy
- TNCs
- OPEC (organisation of the petroleum exporting countries)
- energy companies
- consumer
- governments
physical obstacles to energy pathways
- vast distances
- difficult terrain (e.g. Tundra in Alaska - Trans-Alaskan pipeline and in Siberia Trans-Siberian Pipeline)
- seas/ oceans
hurricane season (deepwater oil extraction in Mexico) - natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes)
human obstacles to energy pathways
- technical problems such as pipeline leaks
- political tensions and disagreements - pathways get blocked at ‘choke points’ (e.g. Middle East and Russia, and the South China sea)
- pirate activity (water surrounding Somalia)
- embargoes and sanctions (such as Iran and Russia)
- socio-economic changes (e.g. recession and job losses)
- armed conflict (Sudan and South Sudan)
peak oil
- Geologists have been predicting ‘peak oil’ for some years ( i.e. that oil production will reach a global peak, before declining sharply). The argument is that the world has finite fossil fuel reserves and soon they will be reaching their end. Many experts say 2008/9 was global ‘peak oil’.
- However, many countries are finding new and technologically advanced ways access fossil fuels that previously were very hard to extract. They are doing this to boost there energy security by having domestic supplies rather than relying on imports from overseas.
sustainability
the extent to which alternatives to fossil fuels can be regarded as ’sustainable’
costs of nuclear energy (recyclable)
- contaminate water with radiation
- natural hazards cause concern - e.g. Japan tsunami-Fukishima
- NIMBY - controversial due to health implications if power plant fails (Chernobyl disaster 1986)
- expensive to build - technology involved
benefits of nuclear energy
- no CO2 emissions - less contribution to global warming
- creates jobs - Hinkley point C provided 25,000 jobs
- very efficient energy
costs of solar energy (renewable)
- Uses large amount of land – e.g. farmland that could be producing food
- Toxic chemicals and energy goes into the making photovoltaic cells
- No sun then no energy – unreliable
Electricity generated is hard to store - for individual expensive
