Energy Security Case Studies

• 2009 - 2013
• A pipeline created to reduced Europes energy dependence on Russian Gas.
• Goes thorugh Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.
• A cost of £8 billion.
• Supplied by the Caspian Region.
• Main supplier would be Iraq- 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.
• The pipe would have the capacity to transport 31 billion cubic metres a year.

Pros

• Will reduce Russias energy dominance (currently supplies a third of all European gas).
• Increases energy diversity, which increases energy security.

Cons

• The pipe goes through geopolitically tense countries such as Syria, Iran and Iraq.
• Expensive.
• Could cause further tension between Russia and European states.
• Will harm agriculture to build the pipe.
• Doesn't decrease reliance on non-renewable resources.

• Unconventional.
• Located in North America, South of the Arctic Ocean.
• Tar is a combination of sand, clay, water and bitumen, they are extracted by mining and then refined to get the oil.

Pros

• Many undiscovered reserves.
• Enormous growth potential.
• In Alberta, jobs are created for Native Americans.
• Keeps oil prices down.
• Potential to produce 1.2 million barrels of oil a day.

Cons

• Air purity decreases by 40%.
• 2.9 million gallons of polluted water runs into streams- contains carcinogenic pollutants.
• Destoys cabon sinks - 30-40% in Alaskan coastal aeas.
•  50 squared miles now covered in toxic pools.
• TNCs Vs Locals and Environmentalists

• 1960's to present.
• Located in Ecuador, South America.
• Drilling will continue in 2016 by the company 'Petromazonas', they have permission to drill 100,000 hectares (10%) of the park.
• 50% of Ecuadors export income comes from oil,
• 45% of the population live in poverty.
• 900 million barrels available.

Pros

• Money generated through oil allows improvements in infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and military.
• Only 3% of the population live in the area, so not many people will be directly affected.

Cons

• Ecuador is the most biodiverse place on the planet- may be affected e.g. 655 species of tree at risk.
• Two main rivers may become polluted - The Cononaco and Napo.
• Oil Spill in 1996 by Chevron- they were sued $1 billion. 
• Indigenous 'Huaorani' people may be impacted and can contract diseases.

• Store electricity as hydrogen then convert it into electricity in a fuel cell.
• Generate electricity, water and heat, therefore no harmful emissions.
• Tanks store 300 miles worth.

Pros

• Can be powered on renewable electricity therefore have zero emissions.
• Takes only 2-3 minutes to refuel.
• 95% of hydrogen in 2014 was made from methane, so it actualy reduces greenhouse gases.

Cons

• Only 11 refueling stations in the UK.
• Hydrogen is expensive, costs around $13.50 per kg, which is about 62 miles.
• The price of the cars is expensive, can be leased for $500 a month or purchased for around $60,000- double the price of an average car. 

• Debate began in 1977.
• Should we drill in the Arctic for oil?
• ANWR covers 19,000,000 acres of the North Alaskan coast.

Pros

• Lower oil prices, leading to an economic boom.
• Lessen the UKs dependence on foreign oil and makes us more energy secure.
• Money spent on oil from the Middle East, Russia and Venezuala may be strengthening communists and terrorists.
• Would help the economy in Alaska, as it would create thousands of jobs.

Cons

• Doesn't help us move towards renewable energy resources.
• Could disturb habitats and ecosystems, reducing biodiversity.
• May take years for a significant amount of oil to be extracted.
• Local residents and environmentalists Vs Government.

• Aims to reduce Europes reliance on Russias gas supply.
• Natural Gas will be transported by an 1805km long pipeline underground.
• Funded by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
• Construction will last 4 years, target is to complete by 2018.
• Natural Gas comes from Georgia/Turkey and enters the TAP pipeline.

Pros

• Decreases reliance on Russian gas.
• Increases importance of Turkey and Azerbaijan as EU energy partners.

Cons

• Not reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
• Could increase tensions with Russia.
• Starts in a politically tense area - Turkey has had problems with terrorism.

• Technology captures up to 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels in industry.
• Stores the Carbon Dioxide underground in depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers.
• Scotland has 50% of the offshore storage capacity in Europe.

Pros

• Can work within the existing system- everything can operate as usual.
• Reduces amount of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere.

Cons

• Carbon Dioxide is stored underground and this may have unforeseen circumstances.
• Expensive and money could be spent on renewable technologies that we know work.
• Could be seen as a distraction, prolonging the switch to renewable energy sources.

An approach which encourages initiatives for becoming greener (Carrot) such as investment opportunities or by offering a punishment (Stick) such as fines.

Kyoto Protocol

• 1997
• An international treaty amongst industrialised nations that sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions, if a country does not meet limits it is fined.
• USA has not signed up- key figure.
• Has led to the development of the 'carbon-trading' market - countries arent reducing emissions at all.

Green Taxes

• Car Tax- depends on the emissions of the car, more emissions higher tax. Aims to discourage the purchase of high emission cars.
• Congestion Charge- a charge incurred to drive into an area, to reduce traffic. 
• Smart Meters- allows people to be aware of household energy consumption.

• Located on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasion plate meets the North American plate in the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Generates 25% of Icelands electricity.
• Used in 9/10 households.
• Water is pumped underground and heated, the steam created turns a turbine which generates electricity.

Pros

• Saves 80% more than fossil fuels.
• Minmal pollution.
• Infinite.
• Has huge potential- 2TW worldwide.

Cons

• Can displace habitats and put species at risk such as the Icelandic Lichen.
• Potential to trigger earthquakes.
• Location specific- has to be on a tectonic plate boundary.
• Environmentalists and Local People Vs TNCs (e.g. Magma Energy)

• Tradition of sugar cane farming has led to the production of bioethanol.
• Investment in Brazil biofuels rose in 1973 due to the fuel crisis.
• Production increased from 0.6bnl in 1975 to 11bnl in 1990.
• 47% of Brazils energy is renewable.
• Brazil is the 2nd largest producer of biofuel (20bnl).

Pros

• Created 1 million jobs.
• Useful waste products- Vinasse is a good fertiliser.
• Reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
• Brazil is energy secure.

Cons

• Eutrophication of Vinasse - can be corrosive.
• Could lead to food insecurity as land is used to grow crops for fuel, or increase in food prices, which will affect the urban poor.

• Dogger Bank is the main site, located 102 miles off the North Coast of England.
• Will power 2 million British homes.
• Consists of 200 turbines.

Pros

• Create 4750 jobs.
• Will generate £1.2 billion in its lifetime.

Cons

• 98% of Norwegian birds had plastic particles in their stomachs.
• Conflicts over water territory between the UK and Denmark.
• NIMBY issues.

• Extracted by drilling into rock then pump in at very high-pressure vast quantities of water mixed with sand and chemicals. This opens up tiny fissures in the rock, through which the trapped gas can then escape.
• In 2000 shale gas provided only 1% of U.S. gas production, by 2010 it was over 20%.

Pros

• ŸHelps to keep the OPEC countries from creating a monopoly on fuel prices.
• Reduces reliance on other countries (Russia, Iraq and Qatar).
• Shale gas is 17% cheaper than the cheapest renewable fuel.

Cons

• Contamination of drinking water resources with chemicals.
• Not reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Increased seismic activity. 
• Noise pollution - trucks and lorrys, drilling, etc.
• 18 million litres of water needed to drill just one well.