Topic 6: EQ2 Flashcards
Why is having an energy mix important?
No country on earth will depend on just a single source for its energy, a mix is required. This will depend on what is available most easily, cheaply, effectively or securely.
What are the different types of energy resources?
-Primary and secondary
-Domestic and overseas
-Renewable and non-renewable and recyclable
What is the difference between primary and secondary energy resources?
Primary resources are those which are consumed in their raw form. These include burning fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable sources (solar, wind and wave energy).
Primary sources can also be used to generate electricity, which is a secondary energy source. It flows through power lines and infrastructure to power homes and businesses.
What is the difference between domestic and overseas sources?
Despite economic and population growth, energy consumption in the UK has decreased from 1998 to 2015 because of the adoption of energy-saving technology. More also came from renewable energy.
Declining domestic North Sea oil and gas reserves have made the Uk increasingly dependent on imported energy. The UK now imports more than it produces, and is therefore in an energy deficit and is energy insecure. It is extremely reliant on countries such as Norway and those in the Middle East for oil and gas, which puts the UK at risk if there are external shocks (E.g conflicts in OPEC countries)
What is Russia an example of?
An energy secure country. This is because they produce more energy domestically than they import.
What is a non-renewable energy source?
E.g coal, oil and gas. Also known as finite reserves, the use of these stocks will eventually lead to their exhaustion.
What are renewable energy resources?
E.g Solar, wind and wave energy. These are continuous flows from nature, and can be constantly reused.
In 2015, renewable resources accounted for 25% of the UK’s electricity generation. The first year it produced more electricity than coal did.
What is recyclable energy?
E.g reprocessed uranium and plutonium from nuclear power plants and heat recovery systems.
Why is energy essential to modern day economies?
-Powers most transport
-Lights our settlements
-Warms and cools our homes
-Drives manufacturing
-It’s vital to communications
What is energy security?
Energy security refers to the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price. It has many aspects, for example:
-Long term energy security deals with timely investment to supply energy in line with economic development and environmental needs.
-Short term energy security is crucial to react to sudden changes in balance between the energy supply and demand.
What is the energy mix?
This is the combination of different available energy sources used to meet a country’s total energy demand. The exact proportions or mix vary from country to country. It is an important component of energy security.
What factors impact the consumption of energy?
-Physical availability
-Technology
-Cost
-Economic development
-Climate
-Environmental Policies
How does physical availability affect a nation’s energy mix?
If a certain energy source has to be imported rather than produced domestically, transport costs will higher, and therefore those sources which have to be imported from afar are less likely to be used.
Similarly, if domestic sources are expensive and difficult to extract, these may also not play a big role in a nation’s energy mix.
How does technology affect consumption/extraction of energy?
Modern tech can help reach those not so accessible energy resources, such as fossil fuels stores deep underground. Despite making extraction easier, technology is also often energy thirsty, which can drive up our everyday energy usage.
How does cost of energy affect consumption?
Energy production has many separate costs including physical exploitation, processing and delivery to the consumer. If these costs are low, their consumption is likely to rise.
How does economic development affect energy consumption?
Costs are, of course, relative. What one country deems and acceptable cost may be too high to another through the perception of government and public. The higher economic development, the less sensitivity to energy costs.
Similarly, the more economically developed may have more incentive to use cleaner energy sources.
How does climate affect energy consumption?
Places which get extreme temperatures in either direction (e.g Middle East or Russia) will use ,ore energy to maintain building temperature. Anomalies in this may be due to lack of economic development (e.g low energy usage in Africa despite the heat).
What is ‘tonnes of oil equivalent’?
This is a unit which is designed to include all forms of energy by comparing them with oil in terms of heat output. It measures each type of energy by calculating the amount of heat obtained by burning one tonne, and then converting it to however much oil would be required to produce an equivalent amount of energy.
How has oil changed its % of energy mix in the UK from 1980-2012?
38% of energy mix to 32.5% in 2012.
Despite the discovery of oil reserves in the North Sea in 1970, it has lately became very expensive and energy intensive to extract what remains. Therefore, when global oil prices fall (e.g in 1998), extraction becomes less attractive.
UK gov goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 also have caused a decrease.
How has gas changed its % of energy mix in the UK from 1980-2012?
19% (1980) -> 40% (2012)
Gas extraction from the North Sea heavily increased since the discovery of its reserves in the UK’s waters. Gas is also considered the ‘cleanest’ hydrocarbon, and due to its essential role in providing energy for homes, it’s uptake has increased. New technology has also aided in its extraction from the deeper reserves.
How has coal changed its % of energy mix in the UK from 1980-2012?
34% (1980) -> 15% (2012).
In the 1900’s, the UK was heavily dependent on domestic coal. Even though 150 years worth of coal is now left in the UK, this is deep underground and extraction would be time consuming and expensive. Deep coal is also considered ‘dirty’, and doesn’t burn as efficiently.
Increased cost of transport for imported coal also reduced its usage.
How has renewable energy changed its % of energy mix in the UK from 1980-2012?
≈5% in 1980 to ≈4% in 2012.
The commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 40% has meant a possible uptake in the amount of renewable energy.
The UK is limited in many ways for renewable energy, with a lack on sunlight to make solar energy cost effective (apart from in Dorset) , and HEP already in place where effective means more cannot be added.
There is investment into wave and wind energy on the South Coast.
How has nuclear energy changed its % of energy mix in the UK from 1980-2012?
6% (1980) to 9% 2012
-Despite the UK being among global leaders in nuclear power in 1970, the discovery of the North Sea’s reserves halted this progress. However, there is now a nuclear renaissance to increase nuclear energy again (e.g the construction of Hinckley Point C, Somerset).
Now, there is a lot of nimbyism surrounding nuclear energy, and the fact that it is extremely costly is making progress slow.
However, the UK does have aims to diversify energy mix and this includes plans to have more nuclear energy, known as the nuclear renaissance.
How has oil changed its % of energy mix in Norway from 1980-2010?
51% to 33.5% of energy mix
Norway now exports lots of its fossil fuels which are extracted domestically to make funds for a future which is 100% renewable energy resources. The North Sea’s reserves means that oil usage still makes up 1/3 of the energy mix.
This will also reduce as Norway also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
How has gas changed its % of energy mix in Norway from 1980-2010?
0% to 20%
The main cause for this increase is technology making the extraction from the North Sea much more of a viable option.
HEP can only produce so much energy, so at least I the short term, rising demand for energy has to be met somehow,
How has coal changed its % of energy mix in Norway from 1980-2010?
6.5% (1980) to less than 1.5% (2010).
With similar reasons to why Norway exports lots of its oil, much of the coal produced domestically is also exported. Declining availability in the Svalbard also makes extraction more expensive and the coal is less efficient.
Norway is the 3rd largest exporter of hydrocarbons, and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.
How has hydropower changed its % of energy mix in Norway from 1980-2010?
42.5% to 40%
HEP has been used in Norway since 1970 due to the plentiful supply of mountainous slopes.
There are 600 HEP dams in Norway, and there are no available locations to build any more, therefore Norway cannot utilise HEP any more than the 97.5% of its renewable energy it already produces.
What is the UK’s level of economic development ?
GDP per capita (PPP) - US$41,000 (2015)
Energy use per capita - 2752kg oil equivalent (2014).
Average annual household energy cost - £1300 (2015)
What is Norways level of economic development?
GDP per capita (PPP) - US$61,000 (2015)
Energy use per capita - 5854kg oil equivalent (2014).
Average annual household energy cost - £2400 (2015)
What is an energy pathway?
This is the route taken by any form of energy form it’s source to its point of consumption. The routes involve different forms of transport, such as ships, pipelines and electrical transmission grids.
Who are the main players in energy pathways?
-TNCs
-OPEC
-Governments
-Consumers
What is the role of energy TNC’s in the energy pathway?
-To explore, exploit and distribute energy resources.
-To own supply lines and invest in distribution and the processing of raw materials, as well as electricity production and transmission.
-They respond to market conditions to secure profits for their shareholders.
Examples include old players such as Shell and BP, or newer players such as Russia’s Gazprom.
What is OPEC’s role in energy supply and the energy pathway?
-They aim to co-ordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its members, to ensure the stabilisation of oil markets in order to secure:
-An efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers.
-A steady income for producers
-A fair return for those investing in the industry.
Who are OPEC?
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries is a permanent inter-governmental organisation (IGO).
All its members are oil producing and exporting countries, like Saudi Arabia, where oil is their main (or only) export. This makes it vital for their social and economic well-being.
OPEC controls 81% of proven oil reserves between the involved nations.
What are some examples of how OPEC works?
In the past, OPEC set oil production quotas to respond to economic conditions - boosting supply when prices rise and cutting supply when prices fall.
However, from 2012-16, maintaining high supply kept prices low, and this was most likely to stay competitive with the US oil market, which saw an increase in output due to fracking, and this lowered global prices.
What is the role of the national government for energy supply and the energy pathway?
-To meet international obligations, whilst securing energy supplies for the nation’s present and future, as well as supporting the country’s economic growth.
-They also set regulations for the role of private companies, setting environmental priorities.
What are examples of the impact national governments can have on energy supply and the energy pathway?
-EDF (France) and China General Nuclear are two gov-backed energy TNCs involved in the development of new nuclear power plants in the UK (e.g Hinckley Point C)
-EU governments aim to fulfil CO2 emissions targets and reduce fossil fuel dependency
-Norway has the Sovereign Wealth Fund to aim to become fully reliant on renewable energy to supply its energy mix in the future.
How do consumers play a role in the energy supply/pathway and what affects consumer attitudes?
-Consumers create the demand. They will often make their purchases based on the cheapest option out of substitute goods.
-Consumers do have some power over oil companies, for example through purchasing electric cars or installing energy panels. However, currently most solar energy plants in the EU and UK are only due to large government subsidies.
How can consumer actions positively affect the energy supply?
-The expansion of nuclear energy, as well as the extraction of oil and gas by fracking, are both controversial across the UK and EU. There has been widespread protests against both.
How has humans reliance on fossil fuels progressed?
Still today, we rely on fossil fuels for the greater part if it’s energy needs. Our use started in prehistoric times with fuelwood and potentially peat, which was followed by the coal era of the Industrial Revolution. However, oil took over as the major carbon fuel during the 20th century, and this is now being challenged by natural gas as the dominant fuel.
Is there a mismatch between the consumption and production of coal?
8 of the world’s leading coal producing countries are also in the leading coal consumers. China and USA are both the leading producers and consumers of coal, with China producing 3,650 million tonnes, and consuming 1,839 million a year.
The reason for this is that coal is difficult and expensive to transport, relative to its low energy density.
Is there a mismatch between the supply and demand of oil?
Well over 50% of global oil supply comes from the international groups of OPEC and North America. Similarly, despite Japan not being in the world’s leading oil producers, they import 4.2million barrels of oil per day.
Only USA, China and India are leading producers and importers. All other importers are predominantly industrialised nations in either Asia or Europe.
What causes oil’s high demand?
It is used heavily as fuel for transport, and unlike coal and gas it has no substitute, which means there is a deep global market and differences between consumers and producers.
Oil is also used to make plastics, fertilisers, deodorant and much more, causing it to become the most important source of energy since the mid 1950s.
Is there a mismatch between the supply and demand of natural gas?
Gas production is dominated by the USA (4,359,000 million m^3) as well as Russia. Although some leading producers are also in the leading importers (e,g Russia and USA), there is a widespread mismatch of supply and demand, with developed European nations such as Germany and the UK, as well as Japan being high on the imports leaderboard.
What causes natural gas to have high demand?
Gas can be easily transported through pipelines, and can be liquified to make it easy to transport large distances (e.g Qatar to the UK). It is highly demanded as for developed nations it is the main fuel source to heat homes, and benefits from having the highest energy density of all the fossil fuels.
Why are energy pathways necessary?
There are mismatches between supply and demand of fossil fuels, and the creation of energy pathways allow doe transfers between consumers and producers. This is reflected by a tension between physical and human geography. Physical geography determines the locations of energy resources, where as human geography determines where the resources are needed.
