The carbon cycle and energy security case studies

Physical availability:

• In 1970 they were heavily dependent on domestic coal
• Global leaders in nuclear tech

Cost:

• Stocks of North Sea oil and gas are also declining, which is forcing the UK to import more

Technology:

• Current tech and environmental policies make its extraction of coal and use expensive

Political considerations:

• The increasing reliance on imported energy sources affects the UK's energy security
• Overseas companies decide which energy sources are used to meet UK demand

Physical availability:

• Much of the oil and natural gas in Norway's terrestrial waters is exported

Costs:

• Norsk Hydro runs over 600 HEP sites, which supply 97.5% of Norways renewable electricity
• HEP costs are low once capital investment is complete

Technology:

• Deepwater drilling tech enabled both Norway and the UK to develop North Sea oil and gas extraction

Political considerations:

• The Norwegian governement has an interventionist approach, which prevents foreign companies from owning any primary energy source sites

Canada holds the world's largest reserves of tar sands, which three main deposits in Alberta

Despite their environmental impact, the tar sands increase Canada's energy security and the regional and national government promote their use

They are also beneficial for further economic development

However, for local and indigenous people, there are many costs

Benefits

• Alternatice source of oil
• Earns revenue

Costs

• Very expensive
• Lots of waste

Consequences for the environment

• Large scale, opencast mining destroys forests
• Extraction creates soil heaps
• Caribou populations have declined sharply

Key Players

• Environmental pressure groups - Greenpeace called an end to destruction of forests
• Local communities - new jobs but pollution
• Governments - Alberta gov promote tar sands for energy security and economic dev

Benefits:

• Jobs created
• Oil rigs created artificial reefs and support ocean ecosystems

Costs:

• Deep water drilling may be dangerous
• Expensive

Players:

• Consumers who purchase the oil
• Environmental groups who are concerned with the negative impact of drilling
• National governments can allow or block deepwater oil fields to be opened up for drilling

Benefits:

• Assess to more oil and gas
• Economic impact
• Do not have to rely on foreign countries
• Job opportunities

Costs:

• Environmental issues (water pollution, air pollution)
• Global warming
• Drought like situations
• Exposure to toxic chemicals

Impact on environment:

• Contaminatin of the ground and surface water
• Drilling wastewater can kill ground vegetation