topic 6- (EQ2)what are the consequences for people and env of our increasing demand for energy Flashcards
What is the relationship between GDP and energy use per capita
as GDP increases so does energy use per capita
whats primary energy
refers to natural energy resources that have not been converted into another form of energy. it includes non renewable sources such as fossil fuels-( coal, oil and gas), nuclear (uranium) and renewable ( hydro, solar, wind, biomass)
whats secondary energy
refers to what the primary source has been converted to, usually electricity. can be heating
why is the UK energy insecure
the UK now imports more energy than it produces, it has an energy deficit(energy demand is greater than supply)
give an example of an energy secure country
Russia
what are 6 reasons why energy mix varies
-physical availability-climate affects avalibality
-cost
-technology
-political considerations
-level of economic development
-environmental priorities- cultures view env differently eg russia sees natuer as a provider of resources
talk about the physical availability of energy in the uk compared to norway.
uk- used to depend heavily on domestic coal and now found oil reserves
Norway- steep valleys, plentiful rainfall and mountainous = HEP readily available
talk about the cost of energy resources in the uk and norway (extraction and hep)
uk- north sea oil is expensive to extract so if global prices fall, its less viable
Norway- the cost of HEP is low however the transfer of it to rural areas is expensive.
talk about the technology in the UK and Norway and how it leads to an energy mix
uk- theres 150 years worth of reserves but its expenisve to extract- may get energy elsewhere
Norway- deepwater drilling allowed Norway and UK to extract North sea oil and gas
talk about political considerations of the UK and Norway and how it leads to an energy mix.
UK- the privatisation of Uks energy supply industry means OVERSEAS companies decide which ENEGRY SOURCES are used to meet the UKs demand.- public concern is growing over new fracking sites
Norway- foreign companies cant own primary source sites here.
talk about level of economic development and why that makes a places energy mix vary.(prices)
Norway vs UK
UK- average annual household energy costs=£1300
enegry use per capita= 2752 kg oil equivalent
Norway- average annual household energy costs=£2400
enegry use per capita= 5854 kg oil equivalent
talk about environmental priorities and why that makes a places energy mix vary.
uk- in 2015, the UK committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
norway- in 2015, Norway committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
norway is the 3rd largest exporter of hydrocarbons
what happens if a chokepoint is blocked
energy prices can rise quickly
talk about an energy pathway disruption that occurred in the uk
during a stormy winter in 2013, UK gas reserves fell to 6 hours worth as storm damage paralysed a pipeline.
despite the increasing concern about carbon emissions, what is still used
fossil fuels
4 ways we can transport energy
-pipeline overland ( oil and gas)
-bulk carrier ships (coal and uranium)
- tankship (coal and LNG)
-underwater cables (electricity)
what are the two types of obstacles to energy pathways
physical and human
physical and human obstacles to energy pathways + egs
difficult terrain
- vast distances
-hurricane season gulf of mexico
-difficult terrain eg tundra in alaska
-seas/oceans
-natural hazards (earthquakes)
-runs out of supply eg north sea
unstable locos-middle east and russia
* embargoes eg from Iran and Russia.
* chokepoints
* Political tensions and disagreements may block pathways (choke points) e.g. Russia/Ukraine.
what are the 4 unconventional fossil fuels
deep water oil, tar sands, oil shale, shale gas (fracking)
unconventional fossil fuels: deep water oil
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
- explanation-
found in Gulf of Mexico, where one of the largest and deepest oil fields is Atlantis
Oil and gas that is found well offshore and at considerable oceanic depths.
Drilling takes place from ocean rigs
-positives-
improve a countries energy security- gives domestic (in country) energy supply
many barrels can be produced
-negatives-
drilling into deep water is not easy and there are hurricanes as well as long distances to shore
-long pipelines needed
unconventional fossil fuels: tar sands
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
l- explanation-
tar sands are a mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen (very viscous oil). the oil is too thick to be pumped from the ground, instead it must be taken from an open pit, or strip- mined. To recover the oil, it must be separated from the sands using very hot water diluted with lighter hydrocarbons
-positives-
when oil prices are high, it becomes economical to extract the oil from the sands
its raised GDP per capita in some places
alternative source of oil
offers energy security
-negatives-
large amount of energy are needed
contributes to global warming 3 times higher than conventional oil
mining process leaves scars on the landscape
impact wildlife
people-leaks into water supplies.
unconventional fossil fuels: oil shale
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
- explanation-
contains solid bituminous material (kerogen) that forms when slit and organic matter were heated and pressurised under water , but not enough to turn it into oil. oil shale van be mined, but must be heated to a high temp to release the oil
-positives-
The royal Dutch shell has developed a plan to heat shale underground surrounded by a freeze wall so that the kerogen seeps out into drilled holes for collection
provides a domestic/ reliable supply
-negatives-
expensive and releases greenhouse gasses
disturbs land vegetation cover
produces waste- water and air pollution
unconventional fossil fuels: shale gas (fracking)
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
- explanation-
Natural gas that is trapped in fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Extracted by fracking: pumping in water and chemicals forces out the gas..The method consists of rock must be broken to free the gas which is done by hydraulic fracturing (fracking); involves horizontal and vertical drilling
-positives-
increasing energy reserves for a country and reducing needs for imports
its a flexible energy source
-negatives-
many drill sites are needed.
lowered local groundwater levels
chemical contamination
adds to greenhouse effect
subsidence
shale gas= fossil fuel
what an embargo
a complete ban on trade
in the early 1970s, western countries experienced an energy crisis, why
OPEC placed an embargo on the sales of crude oil to the usa, Japan, uk and the Netherlands
what have drastic increases in oil prices lead countries to do
countries have diversified their primary energy resources so have less of a dependence on a certain country
what are 2 developments that are fundamentally changing the global energy system
- the unconventional oil and gas revolution (shale gas) that has signalled a new era of fossil fuel abundance
- COP26
What led to the age of fossil fuel abundance
In the USA a technique has been perfected that uses horizontal drilling, fracking then takes a matter of hours
3 problems associated with developing renewable energy
-although wind and solar producers do not need to pay for their fuel, there are geopolitical concerns about access to raw material that are essential to renewable energy.
- the low- carbon transmission means re-scaling and decentralisation of the energy system. prosumers= households that are both producers and consumers. the growth of prosumers has the potential to destabilase the the existing system based on large power plants and national electricity grids
-wind and solar are intermittent- they do not generate electricity when the wind does not blow or the sun is not shining causing insecurity
what is base load energy
a consistent, unbroken supply of energy
what was Germanys response to the Fukishima disaster
- closed 8 nuclear reactors immediately
challenges germany has faced since closing 8 nuclear stations
- a greater unexpected reliance on coal has raised geopolitical considerations.