trends in energy consumption Flashcards
trends and impacts
Where are coal reserves and how long are they expected to last?
- coal reserves are spread wildely; around 70 countries have significant reserves. The countries which have the largest coal reserves are the USA, Russia, China and Australia. The reserves are expected to last for another 150 years.
Why is its use different between HICs and LIC/MICs?
HIC’s are starting to reduce their coal usage because coal is a dirty fuel (highly polluting & high Sulphur content), whereas MIC’s and NIC’s such as China are increasing their coal use as coal fired power stations are easy to construct and they generate large amounts of electricity. Currently, 40% of the worlds electricity is generated form coal.
What are the predictions about the future of coal?
It is hard to predict the future of coal, but we can predict that coal will become more important as oil reserves decline and oil prices rise.
- If they come up with a technique to convert coal into gas while it is still underground, then it could make coal easier to extract.
- demand would rise if it no longer contributed to climate change (maybe by introducing carbon capture at coal fired power stations).
What is the prediction for global consumption of oil?
It is predicted that oil use will grow more slowly than the overall increase in world energy consumption, reflecting the fact that it is a finite resource. However, oil is still expected to remain the largest source of energy.
What is OPEC? Why have they increased production?
OPEC refers to Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which is a cartel. A group of 13 oil-producing countries that work together to control production in order to influence prices. As world demand for oil has increased, the OPEC countries have increased production to stop the price of oil rising too rapidly.
What caused an increase in oil prices after 2005?
mostly due to supply being fairly static but demand rising, especially in rapidly-industrialising countries such as China. OPEC tried restricting the price rise by increasing production but prices still rouse. In rich oill-importing countries, this all lead to inflation and reduced economic growth.
Why is production of oil down in the Middle East? What implications has this had?
wars in the middle east have lead to a reduction of prouduction there.
- concerned oil companies have been drilling in more and more extreme environments e.g. a mile below sea level.
Where are gas reserves and how long are they expected to last?
70 years (enormous reserves of natural gas still left. A third of the reserves in russia, another third in the Middle east (Iran and Qatar). Also likely that we might discover more reserves in the future.
How is gas being extracted from Shale? What are the implications of this?
Fracking uses borehole technology allowing for holes to be drilled onto the gas-bearing shales. Liquids are pumped in to the drilled holes allowing for the gas to flow and when the liquids are removed gas flows easily.
How is nuclear energy produced from uranium?
In a nuclear power station , fuel rods of uranium undergo radioactive decay,producing heat which is converted into electricity
Where are the world’s uranium reserves?
Almost half are in the USA, n Canada and Australia. Mostly in HICs but NICs such as India, China, Korea and Brasil have also developed nuclear power.
What are the issues with nuclear power?
- accidents lead to releases of dangerous radioactive material ex: Chernobyl
- NP stations are very expensive to build
- no safe way of depositing waste
- take a long time to buikld
What are the predictions for the future of nuclear energy?
future = uncertain. However it doesnt contribute to climate change and produces a vast amount of energy and reduce’s the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels
