Unit 3 - Topic 1, Energy Security Flashcards
Define Energy Security
Means to have access to reliable and affordable energy sources e.g. Russia - countries that do not have this and are therefore energy deficient are energy insecure
What are the important factors in achieving energy security?
- Control over supplies
- Control over prices
- Having a variety of energy sources to call on
- Political stability (in supply region as well as demand region)
Define non-renewable energy/finite energy
A non-renewable resource is a resource of economic value that cannot be readily replaced by natural means on a level equal to its consumption. The demand outstrips the supply. - e.g. fossil fuels
Define Fossil Fuels
A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms - they will eventually run out due to them being non-renewable
Define Resource Depletion
Is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished
Define Renewable Energy
Energy from a source that is not depleted when used e.g. wind or solar power
Define Flow Resources
Renewables which do not need regeneration as these resources are constant supply - recyclable energy
Define Energy Mix
To meet its energy needs, each country uses the energy available to it, in different proportions - this is known as an energy mix. - Fossil fuels account for 80% of the energy mix
Define Recyclable Energy
Can be used repeatedly, if managed carefully e.g. biomass, nuclear
In what year did coal production drop drastically in the UK?
Since 1913
Which countries imports undercut energy prices in the UK?
America and Australian imports
In what year did oil production take off in the UK?
1970s
In 1985, how many barrels of oil were being extracted from the North Sea, by the UK each day?
2.5 million
What percentage of the UK’s energy needs is oil?
35%
What year did the UK discover gas?
1990s
In what year did Britain become a net importer of gas?
2004
By 2020, gas imports will account for what percentage of consumption?
80%
What year did the UK become the world leader in nuclear technology?
1990s
What energy source did the UK used to mostly rely on?
Coal - the use of coal consumption has reduced overtime
What energy source do the UK depend on?
They depend on imported gas through vulnerable pipelines - Russia supplies 30% of EU gas. When North Sea production started to decline the UK became a net importer of Gas in 2004. (Used to rely on oil but now rely on gas)
What wind speeds do wind turbines require to produce energy?
8-25 mph
What areas do solar panels work best in?
Works best in areas of over 6 kwh per square metre per day
Define Energy Poverty
Lack of access to energy resources in the developing world - they often rely on fuel wood, farm waste and dung as their fossil fuel consumption is low
What percentage of the world rely on fuel wood, farm waste and dung as their energy sources?
40%
By 2030, China will import as much oil as what country?
America
China need their energy so they don’t mind making deals with what countries?
Iran, Burma and Venezuela
What is China’s economy based on?
Manufacturing - China are more energy hungry
What is India’s economy based on?
More service-based
China and India’s net oil imports are expected to jump to what number per day in 2030?
19.1 million barrels a day - Up from 5.4 million barrels in 2006
By 2030, what is global oil demand expected to reach?
116 million barrels a day
What percentage is the use of coal expected to jump to in the next 25 years?
73% - due to the rise in oil and gas prices
What energy source do Japan mostly rely on?
Natural Gas
What energy source do China mostly rely on?
Coal
Define Energy Pathways
The flows of energy from producer to consumer are the pathways. Pathways take the form of gas and oil pipelines, the sea route of tankers carrying oil and gas, and electricity power lines
How many oil and gas barrels does the Middle East export per day?
15,000 barrels
What countries does the Middle East tend to export too?
Japan, Europe and China
What are some of the main reasons why pathways can become disrupted?
- Price and payment disputes
- Piracy e.g. of the Somalian coast
- Subsidence under pipelines
- Terrorism or conflict
- Political discord between supplier and consumer
- Diversion of supply
- Technical interruption to production
- Producers supply simply runs out
- Natural disasters e.g. Hurricane Katrina
Define Geopolitics
Is the study of the ways in which political decisions and processes affect the way resources and space are used. Its the combination of geography, economics and politics
Which area of the world is a key world oil supplier?
The Middle East
What percentage of the worlds estimated 1,000 billion barrels are in the Middle East?
71% - will increase to 83% by 2025
What percentage of oil does the Middle East currently supply to Japan?
76% - due to them being energy insecure
Which country consumes the most oil? And which country produces the most oil?
USA consume the most - Middle East produce the most
What percentage of proved oil reserves does the Middle East hold?
65.4% (25% of that coming from Saudi Arabia)
What is Abqaiq?
The worlds largest oil processing plant
How many oil barrels does Abqaiq produce each day?
6.8 million - 75% of Saudis total output
How many miles of oil and gas fields and pipelines is there at Abqaiq?
12,000 miles
If there was a successful terror attack at Abqaiq, how long could this halt production for?
Up to a year - no-where that could produce that level of oil, thus worlds would suffer with a mass oil supply problem
When was there an attempted terror attack at Abqaiq?
24th of February 2006, attacked by terrorists
What happened at the attempted terror attack at Abqaiq?
2 vehicles carrying explosives tried to smash their way through into the plant compound, there was a 2 hour long gun battle which ended with 2 terrorists and 2 guards dead - plant was undamaged
How many members are there in OPEC?
12
Who are the founding members of OPEC? And when was OPEC founded?
Founding members = Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela - founded in 1960
What two factors influence oil pricing?
1) Price of oil on the free market (demand and supply conditions)
2) Oil quailty
What is the most traded commodity in the world?
Crude oil
What is the main objective of OPEC?
Coordinate petroleum policies amongst members and ensure fair and stable prices for producers.
Why was OPEC formed?
To protect the interests of oil producing countries - at the time oil in the Middle East was controlled by TNCs who raised and lowered prices as they wished to do so
Define a CARTEL
OPEC is said to be a CARTEL
It is an alliance of parties or interests created to further common aims
What is the role of OPEC?
- Sets oil production quotas for members in response to economic growth rates and demand supply conditions
- If demand suddenly rises OPEC can increase production to prevent sharp price rises
- Can also be reduced to maintain price if demand falls
- Aims to get a fair price for members without swamping or restricting the market
Energy Pathways
Supply routes between energy producers and consumers e.g pipelines of shipping routes
Energy Poverty
When a country or region has insufficient access to reliable sources of power
Energy Security
This is vital to the functioning of any economy - any country that is self-sufficient in energy resources will be secure
Energy Surplis
When a country or region has more than enough sources of power for its needs and is able to export its surplus power to other countries
Geopolitics
Political relations among nations, particularly relating to claims and disputes regarding borders and resources
Low-carbon Standard
Initiative introduced in California in 2007 aimed to reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel by 10% by 2020
OPEC
The organisation of petroleum exporting countries e.g. Iran, Iraq and Kuwait
Peak Oil
The year in which the world or an individual oil-producing country reaches its highest level of production, production declines afterwards
Security Premium
The extra cost built into the price of oil to allow for any disruption in supply
Strategic
Something that is done as part of a plant that is meant to achieve a particular purpose or gain an advantage
Supply Shock
A significant interruption to supply due to an environmental, economic or political event
Tar Sands
Naturally occurring mixtures of sand or clay, water and dense form of petroleum called bitumen
Energy Crisis
A serious shortage of energy which interrupts domestic supplies and impacts on all sectors of the economy
Environmental Impact Assessment
Details of all the impacts on the environment of an energy type or another project above a certain size
Fossil Fuels
Fuels consisting of hydrocarbons (coal, oil and natural gas) formed by the decomposition of prehistoric organisms
Renewable Resources
Sources of energy such as solar and wind power that are not depleted as they are used
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The USA’s reserve supply of oil which should last for about 3 months in the event of severe interruptions of imported oil
Energy Infrastructure
The built environment constructed for the exploration, development and production of energy, and all the networks
Energy TNCs
Transnational corporations that specialise in the exploration, development, production of energy and all the networks
Resource Nationalisation
When a country decides to place part or all of one or a number of natural resources e.g. oil under state ownership
Carbon Credit
A permit that allows an organisation to emit a specified amount of greenhouse gases
Carbon Trading
A company that does not use up the level of emissions it is entitled to can see the remainder to another company
Coal Gasification
A process which converts solid coal into a gas that can be used for power generation
Green Taxation
Taxes levied to discourage behaviour that will be harmful to the environment
Microgeneration
Generators producing electricity with an output of less than 50KW
Radical Energy Technologies
One that is not classed as ‘business per usual’ so using renewable resources and other methods and technologies
