The Carbon Cycle and Energy security - Set 2 Flashcards
Energy security
Uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
Aspects of energy security
- Reliable and uninterrupted energy supply
- Accessible and available energy supply
- Affordable and competitively priced energy supply
- Energy mix dependent on domestic rather than imported sources of energy
Why is energy security vital
- Powers transport
- Lights settlements
- Drives most manufacturing etc
Which countries are energy secure
USA, Canada, Norway and New Zealand
Energy intensity
Measure of how effectively a country is using it’s energy
Changes in energy mix globally
- Biofuels seen the lowest growth
- Coal, oil and natural gas all largest producers of energy
What threatens a country that is dependent in imported energy
- Abrupt increases in prices
- Suppliers cut off by military campaigns or civil unrest
What factors affect per capita energy consumption
- Physical availability = Are resources available in that country
- Environmental priorities = does the gov want more renewables etc
- Climate = Areas with a very hot climate require more energy to make houses comfortable
- Technology = Modern tech helps to exploit fossil fuels
Energy players - TNC’s
- Explore, extract and distribute energy resources
- Own supply lines and invest in processing of raw material etc
- Old players = BP and Shell (UK and Netherlands)
- New players = Petro (China) and Petrobras (Brazil)
Energy players - OPEC - Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
- Role is too coordinate and unify petroleum policies of it’s members
- Wants regular and cheap petroleum for consumers and Steady income for producers
- During 2012-16 it maintained high levels of output to keep prices low
Energy players - Energy companies
- Convert primary energy into electricity
- Have influence over consumer processes and tariffs
Energy players - Consumers
- Create demand e.g. Petrol prices can be competitive between supermarkets
- Can carry out protests in response to controversial energy issues
Energy players - National governments
- Guardians of national energy security and influence the sourcing of energy - achieve this by regulating the role of private companies and setting environmental policies
- EDF (France) and China general nuclear are involved in developing nuclear power plants in the UK
Fossil formation - Coal
- Formed during the Carboniferous period
- Rainforests, trees and swamp forests on the land accumulate as they fall - turn into coal when put under pressure
Fossil formation - Oil
Remains of plant’s and animals from the ocean are put under heat and pressure to form oil
Fossil formation - Gas
- Plant and animal remains from the ocean are put under more heat and pressure compared to oil
Coal producers and consumers
– Producers –
- China, India, USA and AUS
– Consumers –
- USA, Japan, Russia and China
Oil producers and consumers
– Producers –
- Canada, USA, Russia, China and Saudi Arabia
– Consumers –
- USA, India, China, Japan, S Korea
Gas producers and consumers
– Producers –
- Canada, USA, Russia, Iran and Qatar
– Consumers –
- Germany, UK, Italy, Japan and S Korea
Nuclear energy costs and benefits
– Social –
- Jobs created
- If contained correctly then is completely safe
– Economic –
- High costs at £92.50 per MwH
- Produce more energy per unit weight of fuel than alternatives
– Environmental –
- Risk of contamination - e.g. Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster
Costs and benefits of Solar power
– Social –
- Take up productive farmland which leads to higher food costs
– Economic –
- High initial cost up to £80 per MwH
- Cheap in the long term and reduces bills of households
– Environmental –
- Very little bad effects with no habitat loss as they are placed on buildings
Costs and benefits of Wind power
– Social –
- Construction jobs
– Economic –
- Very expensive at up to £120 per MwH
- Draws TNC investment and creates energy security for the UK
– Environmental –
- lades can kill birds and noise pollution
- Doesn’t emit greenhouse gasses
Biomass
Organic matter used as fuel, especially in power stations for the generation of electricity
Biofuel
Fuel derived from organic matter, such as agricultural crops, forestry or fishery products and various forms of waste
