Zusammenfassung der Ressource
A2 Geography- Energy
Security
- ENERGY SUPPLY,DEMAND & SECURITY
- TYPES OF ENERGY SOURCE
- 85% of energy supply from fossil fuels
(coal,gas and oil)- high dependency
- Renewable-
wind
turbines,solar
cells, wave
power, tidal
power,
hydroelectric
power,
geothermal.
- Result from
the flow of
energy from
the sun/earths
interior.
- produce no
co2, do not
directly
contribute to
atmospheric
pollution
- Non-Renewable-
coal, oil, gas,
unconventional
oil and coal e.g
tar sands,heavy
oil, oil shale,
peat
- Finite
stock of
resources-
will run out
- Emit CO2
during
combustion-
cause of global
warming
- Recyclable-
Biomass,
Biofuel,
Nuclear
power(with
reprocessing of
fuel)
- Resouces
have a
renewable
stock, can be
repelenished
with careful
management
- biomass and
biofuels emit CO2,
but reabsorb it
when they are
regrown- makes
then colse to
carbon neuteral
- nuclear- do not emit Co2 but are environmental concerns regarding
radioactive uranium fuel + disposal of nuclear waste.
- DISTRIBUTION
- physical geography-access
- UK- large supplies
of coal, oil and gas,
strong tides &
winds- significant
renewable energy
potential.
- low solar and
geothermal potential.
- volacanic activity- high geothermal sources
- nuclear- uranium production- Canada &
Australia leading-50%.
- 2025- 60% world oil supply from
Middle East
- Demand v Supply- Some countries have
vast surplusses (Russia,Saudi Arabia)
whereas some suffer from energy poverty.
- Some areas have huge potential
but are unable to exploit them e.g
solar power in Africa
- ENERGY USE
- energy mix a
country uses
depends on a
number of
different factors
- Physical- availability of North Sea natural
gas contributed to surge of demand in
1990's.
- Public perception- 1950-60's- nuclear power
positive but after Chernobyl-1986-public turned
against it.
- Politics- nucelar power is
back- fears over politics of gas
supply from Russia
- Technology- solar
panel efficiency
conversion increased
from 5% to
40%-1970-2008-
increases viability
- Economics- wind power
becoming competitive with
fossil fuels-USA- Same
price as coal and gas.
- Environment- concerns about
global warming have lead to
move towards renewable
resources-UK wind generating
capacity increased.
- ENERGY TRENDS
- Global energy demand
expected to grow by
50% by 2030.
- Growth-0.7% yr-developed, 2.5%+
-developing (India & China)- 2 Coal
power stations a week- trying to meet
demand.
- will continue to rely on fossil
fuels rather than switch to
nuclear and renewables
- nuclear power plants costly to build- long time to complete
- renewable
sources-unreliable
- solar power difficult to
upscale
- China & India-10%+ world coal reserves- coal power
stations cheap & quick to build
- will effect price
of fossil fuels
- major environmental
implications
- ENERGY SECURITY
- International
energy pathways
- low security- safe & secure transport by sea
(oil,coal & LNG) or pipeline (gas & oil)
- domestic renewable
resources
- foreign sources of fossil fuels
- domestic sources of fossil fuels
- IMPACTS OF ENERGY SECURITY
- ENERGY PATHWAYS
- fossil fuel supplies
becoming more
concentrated
- western europe-
russian gas- given
russia new political
power
- run through
politically troubled
areas.
- pipelines cut off e.g 2006
Ukrane cut off over
payment dispute- knock on
effect
- fears that Russia will be able to
dictate cost of gas- UK supplies
running out- peaked 2000
- 2030, 30% world oil pass
through persian straits.- Iraq
& Iran- conflict.
- makes tankers & pipelines
vunerable to attack and
terrorism
- large volumes passing through
chokepoints-easily disrupted
- piracy-somalia
- COSTS OF DISRUPTION
- price spikes-
economic
recessions
- high oil prices- increase costs for
industry- leads to inflation & rising
prices
- more money spent on energy &
less on other goods- slows
economic growth
- energy fundamental
in developed world-
increases economic
& political risks
- reduction in sales of SUVs- 2007-
USA- car companies lose profit.
- 2000-UK-
protests- petrol
stations blocked
- governments
getting energy
policy wrong.
- South Africa-
energy blackouts-
do not have
enough generating
capacity to meet
demand.- lack of
investment
- knock on effects- industry cutting
back production, FDI reduced,
loss of economic growth, traffic
chaos + closure of shops
- takes long
time to build
new power
stations
- LOOKING FOR MORE ENERGY
- technically difficult areas- arctic circle, deep
water offshore, politically unstable (Somalia)
- non-conventioinal fossil fuels- tar sands,
oil shale, shale gas, heavy oil.
- Environmental issues- oil spillages ,
destruction of forests for mining, use of
fossil fuels to heat tar sands, damage to
biodiverse environments, acid runoff from
surface mining.
- Arctic- 90 billion barrels of
oil- 30% worlds
undiscovered natural gas
- territorial claims-
fear of Arctic free
for all- conflict.
- dangers to environment- technologically
advanced methods risky
- PLAYERS IN THE ENERGY GAME
- dominated by TNCs & state-owned oil companies
- involved in exploration,
extraction, refining & delivery.
- TNCs verticaslly integrated into
energy supply chain & many
diversiying into renewables.
- TNC criticisms
- excessive profits-
have monopoly of
certain countries
- not investing in
long term- lead to
supply shortages
- damage to
sensitive
environments &
ignoring locals
- Consumers, National
goveernments, Pressure groups,
Local governments, OPEC,
International organisations, TNCs,
utility companies
- OPECs- 12 major oil exporters- Africa and middle east.
- can decrease oil supply & increase prices
- control quotas for member states
- 2008- 35% supply globally- has 60% of
reserves- become more powerful in future
- ENERGY SECURITY AND THE FUTURE
- DEMAND FOR FOSSIL FUELS
- Economic growth-
energy demand-
demand strong between
2002-6- economic
boom. when demand
became higher than
supply- cost rose.
- Efficiency- lower
demand- high
energy prices
encouraged switch
to energy efficient
technology.
- Population
growth- uncertain-
pressures on
energy supply
- Renewable &
recyclable
resources- used
more extensivley
would reduce
demand for fossil
fuels
- PEAK OIL PROBLEM
- after peak supplies will shrink & prices rise.
- timing disputed- between 2010-2030.-
some say currently at oil plateu,
- 2007 price rises- possible sign of peak
- gas less of a problem.- ghot
oil shale gas, coal upto 200
yrs
- FUTURE
- timing of peak oil important- how urgently action is needed.
- UK oil peak 1999, USA 1970- reliance on smaller no of nations.
- unstable regions- middle east & africa
- scenarios
- Buisness as usual-
Use coal oil + gas.
- upto 2020- scramble
for remaining
reserves, pressure on
arctic
- 2020+ -high energy
prices, increased
use of
non-conventional oil,
widespread use of
coal,
- Issues- limited global
warming
progress,ecosystem
destruction, air
pollution, no need to
develop new sources
- New Atomic age-
Nuclear power.
- upto 2020- race to
build
reactors(costly),
overcoming public
perception
- 2020+ -developing
world excluded-
cost & technology,
nuclear waste
problems
- Issues- uranium mining
impacts, wasted
disposal concerns,
lower co2 emmisions,
transport technology
reelevoped (electric)
- Renewable
Renaissance- Wind,
solar, wave,
hydrogen, biomass
- upto 2020-
biomass-easy but
rises food costs,
wind
power-oppsition
- 2020+ -stable
supply,
technology-solar
viable, developing
world benefits
- Issues- major co2
reductions, large
land ares used,
requires hydrogen
production for cars.
- RISING TENSIONS
- insecurity- countries
use own energy
resources
- e.g USA- Bio-diesel
& bioethanol- due to
rising oil prices-
created energy
policy acts
- created biofuel
markets- farms
growing fuel not food.-
rising global food
prices & riots in
mexico
- reliance on other
countries- e.g China
in Africa- bilateral
agreements.-oil
supply
- concerns- bilateral
agreements work
against idea of
open oil market, put
oil interests ahead
of humanitarian
concerns (Sudan),
undemocratic
regimes
(Zimbabwe), not
helping african
development
- positives- brings money to worlds poorest
continent infractructure development, employment.
- ALTERNATIVES
- needs- continuing secure
supplies in developed world,
meet emerging economies neess,
basic needs for least developed
world.
- reduce urban air pollution, protect
biodiversity, tackle global warming.
- long term switch to renewables-
- Refuse polluting energy sources- leave tar
sands & oil shales-environmental costs of
extraction & use of gas
- Reduce overall consumption- Energy effieciency
standards. tax system + carbon credits
- Research more sustainable & affordable technologies-
wind,solar,biomass, micro-hydro developed as low cost,
postable systems for developing world
- Recycle waste, convert to useful energy.
landfill-methane used to generate electricity
- Replace inefficient/wasteful technologies- Phase
out non-energy saving light bulbs, replace petrol &
diesel with hydrogen/electricity from renewable
resources
- SYNOPTIC LINKS
- PLAYERS
- large companies- TNCs/ state owned. exporation, exploitation,
processing, delivery + renewables
- governments- influence energy mix-promote remewable resources
- pressure groups- influence energy policy, press for different resources
or argue against construction e.g wind farms/ fracking
- ACTIONS
- governments involved in energy using targets,quotas & subsidies.
- some ay energy markets need to be more locally controlled
- FUTURES
- business as usual- dependence on fossil fuels- environmental & supply implications
- sustainable energy future- switching to remewable sources + large scale nuclear power use.
- radical- drastic cuts in personal energy use. local/ household renewable
supplies, rapid decrease in fossil fuel use + high taxes on polluters
- LINKS TO OTHER UNITS
- world at risk-
causes of
global
warming
- technological fix-
contrasting energy
technologies,
impacts and
availability
- superpower
geogrpahies-
increasing power
of Russia & OPEC
nations,
- development
gap- role of
china in
exploiting
africa's oil
- LINKS TO WIDER GLOBAL ISSUES
- global
warming-
kyoto
protocol- shift
to renewable
resources.
- development
gap- energy
usage, NIC's
heavy coal usage,
developed
countries- clean &
renewable
resources.