Energy AS

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  • Created by: Olliejh98
  • Created on: 03-04-17 11:56
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  • Energy AS
    • Energy mix
      • Domestic sources of primary energy e.g. China's reliance on coal
      • Energy security- diversification prevents over reliance e.g. oil in Middle East
      • Development- MEDCs reliant on primary resources e.g. Sweden 38% nuclear whereas LEDCs use traditional biofuels e.g. India 37% combustible waste
      • Environment-rich countries attempted to reduce GHG emissions (less coal more natural gas and renewables etc)
    • Global patterns of consumption
      • Coal (120yrs)
        • All continents have substantial reserves, domestic use e.g. China, USA and India
        • Less than  1/4 traded e.g. Australia cheap open cast mining
      • Oil (40yrs)
        • Most used, 57% reserves in Middle East, 70% of production Middle East, OECD and Russia
        • 1/2 traded due to low cost, USA and China rely on imports to meet demand
      • Natural gas (50yrs)
        • Most increasing use (x3), Russia (major exporter) has 38%, Middle East 35% reserves
        • 1/4 traded due to complex and expensive transport LNG/pipelines
    • Geopolitics
      • Cartels
        • OPEC (major oil exporters) has 13 members who hold 80% of reserves, control oil prices
      • Conflict
        • Political instability in Middle East e.g. Arab-Israeli conflict, Iraq war threaten production and cause a spike in oil prices
        • International hostility e.g. Russian Gazprom cut off Ukraine in 2009 and EU natural gas shortages resulted
      • TNCs
        • 6 of the largest 10 companies are oil based, exert huge influence over govts. e.g. drilling in Alaska and denial of climate change in USA
    • Environmental impact
      • Fuel wood
        • Developing world e.g. Sahel- Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso
        • Deforestation, soil erosion/desertification, global warming (combustion releases carbon and less trees store less carbon)
      • Nuclear
        • Uranium reserves in Canada, Australia, Namibia, used in countries like France and Japan who have limited fossil fuels
        • Estimated reserves could last 250 yrs, no GHGs or SO2, could close energy gap of countries like UK
        • Accidents e.g. Chernobyl 1986, Fukushima 2011, toxic radioactive materials may enter food chains, no secure repository, potential terrorist targets
      • Fossil fuels
        • Acid rain, Industry-sulphur dioxide, car exhausts- nitrogen dioxide, livestock and fertilisers- ammonia, tackled in the EU, on the rise globally (Chinese coal)
    • Sustainability
      • Renewables
        • HEP- most popular, carbon free, high efficiency BUT flooding, habitats and settlement damage
        • Wind- fastest growing in UK BUT requires vast land, eyesore, bird mortality
        • Solar- huge potential BUT doesn't correspond with population density
        • Wave- sustainable (consistent) and carbon-free BUT technology needs developing
        • Biomass fuels- sustainable waste (small scale) BUT not carbon neutral
        • Tidal- huge potential BUT  expensive, destroys marine habitats
      • Conservation
        • Homes and workplaces- domestic demand 1/3 of energy use in UK, building regulations e.g. insulation, cash incentives for electricty generation
        • Domestic transport- over 1/4 of energy use in UK, ecofriendly cars e.g. Prius hybrid, stop/start clutch, cycling schemes encouraged

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