3.4.6 Energy Mixes and Development Flashcards
(79 cards)
1
Q
What is appropriate technology (AT)?
A
Technology that is designed to be suitable to the context of its use
2
Q
What are features of appropriate technology?
A
- Sustainable
- Small
- Appropriate to environmental, ethical, cultural, social, political and economical context
3
Q
What does appropriate technology depend on?
A
- Wealth, cost and affordability
- Natural resources available locally (e.g. climate, topography)
- Infrastructure, transport and remoteness
- Size of market
- Availability of skilled workers
4
Q
How does micro-hydro work in Peru?
A
- In Chorro Blanco, Peru, Andes (5h from nearest town)
- 3000m altitude
- Pratical Solutions (charity)
-250,000MW of HEP potential but only uses 10% - No state help
- Micro-hydro plant of 20kW which supplies 60 houses
- 1 villager trained in how to maintain the plant
- Haha Marcha region now has 40 micro-hydro plants
- Reduce RU migration and more economic opportunities in village
5
Q
What are the limitations of micro-hydro in Peru?
A
- Took 2 years to build
- Very difficult to get equipment up steep, mountain tracks
- Lack of resilience if the 1 trained villager dies
6
Q
What does energy mix mean?
A
The different sources of primary energy used by all the households, industry and commerce in a country
7
Q
What was the UK energy mix like in 2011?
A
- 85% fossil fuels
- 92% non-renewable
- Reliant on coal for 1/3 of energy
- 4.9% renewables
8
Q
How has the UK energy consumption changed since the 1970?
A
- Household use decreased 12%
- Insulation, double glazing, more efficient appliances
- Heavy industry use decreased 60%
- Deindustrialisation and tertiarisation
- Transport use increased 30%
- More personal wealth = more flights and increased car ownership, heavier vehicles
9
Q
How does 2025 energy consumption compare to 1970 energy consumption in the UK?
A
- Use roughly the same amount of energy in 2025 as we did in 1970
- Population has increased by 15 million so we use less per person
10
Q
What factors impacted UK energy policy in 2011 to give us the energy mix today?
A
- Self sufficient on oil and gas until 2005, but becomingly increasingly reliant on imports since then
- Nuclear power stations are old and 50% need to be decommissioned by 2020
- Coal was 30% of mix in 2011
- Government was to invest in CCS otherwise coal use would have to be reduced
- 4.9% renewables in 2011
- Government planning huge expansion in offshore win
11
Q
What is the UK energy mix in 2024?
A
- 35% gas
- 30% oil
- 10% nuclear
- 12% wind
- 5% solarH
12
Q
How has the UK energy mixed in 2024 changed since 2011?
A
- Increased renewables
- Wind by 97%
- Solar by 4.85%
- Biomass by 1.3%
- Coal decreased significantly
13
Q
How has gas changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Decreased 19%
- Fossil fuel contributing to climate change
- Promoting renewables and clean energy to meet net zero
- 50% of gas is imported, affected by supply issues and conflict
- Rising gas bills
14
Q
How has wind changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Increased 20%
- Significant investment in wind power infrastructure
- Support with policies and subsidies
- Aim to reduce carbon emissions
15
Q
How has nuclear changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Decreased 11%
- All power stations apart from 1 will close by 2035
- Lack of prior investment means no new reactors are being developed
- No political incentives
- Closure of Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B
- SMRs are being built by Rolls Royce to make nuclear cheaper
16
Q
How has biomass changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Decreased 12%
- Growing emphasis on other renewables
- High costs
- Environmental concerns associated with sourcing and transportation
17
Q
How has coal changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Decreased 44%
- Awareness of environmental and health impacts
- Significantly contributes to climate change
- UK commitment to phase out coal fired power plants by October 2024
18
Q
How has solar changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Increased 16%
- New solar generation record
- Advances in technology
- Government incentive
- Increased installation of solar panels
19
Q
How have imports changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Increased 69%
- Specifically from France and the Netherlands
- Temporary reduction sin nuclear and gas (North Sea) outputs
- Policies to cut oil and gas
20
Q
How has hydro changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Increased 12%
- New hydro sites face challenges (protected areas or concerns about ecosystems)
- Consistent but limited expansion as good sites already used
- Reliable source
21
Q
How has storage changed in the UK’s 2024 energy mix since 2020 and why?
A
- Increased 150%
- Significant investment in energy storage
- 1 or Europe’s largest battery storage systems went live in the UK in 2022
22
Q
Why does the UK need a diverse range of energy sources?
A
- Reliability and stability -> not overly dependent on 1 type minimises risk of supply disruptions
- Energy security -> protection against external shocks/market volatility
- Environmental impact -> allows for gradual shift to green/clean energy without compromising supply reliability
- Economic benefits -> investment = economic growth/job creation, encourages technological innovation, efficiency and cost reduction
- Flexibility and adaptability -> adapt to future changes in energy demand and tech advances
23
Q
What is the UK Energy Security Strategy?
A
- Increase wind capacity from 11GW to 50GW by 2030 (mostly offshore)
- Increase solar capacity from 14GW to 70GW by 2030
- Double hydrogen production capacity to 10GW by 2030
- Triple nuclear output by 2050 to aim for 25% of energy mix ( Great British Nuclear to develop new facilities and SMRs)
- Invest in energy storage
- Align with Net Zero Growth Plan
24
Q
What is the energy mix of China in 2024?
A
- Non renewables dominate (71%)
- 64% fossil fuels
- 7% nuclear
- Renewables dominated by hydro (13.6%)
- 18% other renewables
25
How has the energy demand changed over time?
- Total electricity demand in China has risen dramatically since 1990
- 0.5tkwh in 1990, 7tkwh in 2024, 9tkwh by 2040
- Coal use has remained steady since 2015 at 5tkwh but is a falling share
- Nuclear and wind increase quickest from 2024 to 2040 from 0.5 to 1 tkwh
26
What are the similarities between the UK and China's energy mix?
- Rely heavily on fossil fuels
- 2/3 is fossil fuels
- Nuclear forms a similar share of 7-10%
27
What are the differences between the UK and China's energy mix?
- China dominated by coal 50% (heavy industry), UK dominated by natural gas 35% (North Sea, gas boilers in most homes)
- China 31% renewables, UK 21%
- High oil consumption in the UK (higher car ownership)
- Electric car sales in China are 45%, but 23% in UK
28
What are China's energy reserves and renewable energy potential?
- Second largest coal reserves
- Limited oil and gas reserves compared to demand
- Shale gas potential is high
- Large HEP potential due to big rivers
- Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest HEP station
- Strong solar potential in W and N
- World's largest wind power capacity
29
What is the distribution of fossil fuel fields in China?
- Coal, oil and gas is located in N and W mostly
- Population and industry is located in S and E
- N and W China is mountainous so difficult to mine/drill
- Few MNCs are prepared to invest
- Blackouts in Beijing and Shanghai as trains can't carry enough coal
30
What is China's use of coal?
- World's biggest producer and consumer
- Generates nearly 75% of China's electricity
- Builds an average of 3 new coal-fired power stations a week
- Coal reserves are largely located in the N and far W
- Industry demanding coal is based E and S
- Difficult to mine, move and burn coal quickly and in large enough quantities to meet demand
31
What is China's use of HEP?
- 16% of China's energy production
- Three Gorges Dam generates 2.5GW at max output of electricity
32
What are the advantages of the Three Gorges Dam?
- World's largest HEP plant
- Can regulate river flow
- Prevents flooding downstream
- Generates power regardless of the weather
- 32 turbines
- Improved river's navigability by raising the water level upstream (increased shipping capacity)
- Generated 1016 billion kWh in 2018
33
What are the disadvantages of the Three Gorges Dam?
- 600km2 of land was flooded upstream to make reservoir
- Flooded 13 cities, hundreds of villages and 1,000 historical/archaeological sites
- Construction displaced 1.4 million and the government relocation programs were insufficient
- Outperformed by Itaipu Dam as seasonal changes prevent it from reaching max capacity
34
How is military protection of supplies a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- Investing heavily in navy (e.g. port and naval access in Bangladesh and Pakistan)
- Dominate Indo-Pacific trade routes
35
How is gas and oil a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- China claims the sea bed under the South China Sea up to the 9 dash line
- Philippines and Vietnam has competing claims over the same sea bed and reserves
- MNCs are unwilling to invest until there is political certainty
36
How is energy efficiency a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- Older coal power stations are very inefficient
- Due to communist design
37
How is coal a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- Has a lot of coal
- Difficult to obtain
- Imports lots from Australia
38
How is control over supply a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- 90% of energy is imported
39
How is diversification of suppliers a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- Central Asia is considered a secure source
- Also imports from Iran, Sudan, Australia, Canada and Russia
40
How is diversification of sources a reason for China's growing energy insecurity?
- Overdependent on coal
- Making rapid progress with nuclear and renewables
41
What are the opportunities for fossil fuels in China's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Energy security due to large reserves
- Reduce dependence on imported energy
- Backup when renewables are intermittent
- Support heavy industry growth
- Natural gas can be a transitional/bridge source
- Investment in CCS = lower emissions
- Employment for locals
- Fracking opens up new opportunities (Sinopec has struck a deal with American frackers)
42
What are the challenges for fossil fuels in China's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Environmental and health impacts
- Climate commitments (carbon neutrality by 2060 and peak emissions before 2030)
- Slow investment in clean energy
- International pressure due to being reliant on imports from politically unstable regions
- Military protection of maritime trade routes
- Old fossil fuel infrastructure in inefficient
- Chinese technology is 15 years behind
43
What are the opportunities for nuclear in China's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Low carbon energy source
- Reliable source that can act as a baseload supply
- Energy security
- Investment in nuclear technology (SMRs to reduce cost and fast neutron reactors)
- Could become a major exporter
44
What are the challenges for nuclear in China's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- High upfront costs
- Long construction time
- Radioactive waste disposal challenges
- Safety concerns especially in earthquake prone areas
- Public and political fears
- Reliance on imported uranium (vulnerable to fluctuations and tensions)
- Uranium supply chains are narrow so diversification is difficult
- Nuclear plants are vulnerable to attacks
45
What are the opportunities for renewables in China's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Abundant natural resources/potential
- Climate commitments (neutrality by 2060, peak emissions before 2030)
- Investment in new technology
- Energy security
- Diversification of sources
- Creates jobs
- Number 1 for installed capacity for wind turbines and solar panels
- Good physical factors encourage renewables
- Cheapest producer of wind turbines and solar panels
46
What are the challenges for renewables in China's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Intermittent and weather-dependent
- Requires large scale energy storage
- Grid integration issues = wasted energy
- Land use conflicts (extensive land for solar/wind farms, displacement for HEP)
- Seasonal variation of HEP
- Environmental impacts of HEP
- High capital investment in infrastructure
47
What was the energy mix in Kenya in 2008?
- Majority biomass 76%
- Coal 0.3%
- Oil 17%
- Geothermal 6%
48
What were the reasons for Kenya's energy mix in 2008?
Biomass - large rural population, subsistence farming, no connection to grid in rural areas, no1 cause of female premature death in Africa, contributes to deforestation
Coal - few fossil fuel reserves
Oil - transport
Geothermal - Great Rift Valley means there is magma near surface
49
What is the energy mix in Kenya changed in 2023?
- Biomass/fuel wood 20%
- Geothermal 28%
- Hydro, wind, solar 44%
50
Why has the energy mix in Kenya changed by 2023?
Biomass - transition to modern fuels, electrification, RU migration means more likely to be connected to national grid
Geothermal, hydro, wind, solar - least cost power development plan
51
What is the difference between rural and urban energy consumption in Kenya?
- Urban areas connected to electricity grid (51%)
- Rural homes are not connected (4%)
52
Why is oil becoming more significant?
- Increasing affluence (GDP per capita)
- Increased car and appliance ownership
- 2024 = 4.4 million cars
- 2004 = 700,000 cars
53
Why is energy consumption increasing in Kenya?
- Greater affluence
- GDP growth rate 6.6% increase per year
- Population growth of 3% per year
- Poor public transport and sparse population
54
What does the Kenyan government aim to achieve by 2030?
- Vision 2030
- Improve electrification access and petroleum fuels
- 5000MW of geothermal capacity by 2030 (lowest cost)
- Take advantage of lowest cost renewables (e.g. solar in rural areas by Rural Electrification Authority)
- Investing heavily in improving the grid to reach more places
55
What is the GDP per capita of Kenya, China and the UK?
Kenya = $1950
China = $12,614
UK = $49500
56
How is electricity generation per capita changing in Kenya?
- Still low at 200kWh
- Has doubled since 2000 (200kWh)
57
How is electricity generation per capita changing in China?
- 500kWh in 1985
- 6000kWh in 2021
- 1100% increase
58
How is electricity generation per capita changing in the UK?
- Increased from 5400kWh in 1985 to 7000kWh in 2003
- Started decreasing to 4500kWh in 202
- 36% decrease
59
What are the opportunities for fossil fuels in Kenya's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Discovery of oil reserves
- South Lokichar Basin, Turkana in 2012 of 560 million barrels
- Job creation
60
What are the challenges for fossil fuels in Kenya's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Requires infrastructure and investment
- Environment damage
- Potential for oil spills that could damage coral reefs (ecology and tourism at risk)
61
What are the opportunities for geothermal in Kenya's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- Abundant untapped potential
- Energy security
- Application into agriculture, industry and tourism
- Export potential
- Stable and not intermittent
- Could supply 80% of the countries energy as its widespread
62
What are the challenges for geothermal in Kenya's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
- High cost (£100 million to build)
- Grid integration (upgrades to reach homes)
- Geological and environmental risks
- High water use
63
What are the opportunities for solar, wind and HEP in Kenya's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
Solar:
- Abundant potential (220W/m2)
- Decentralised access
Wind:
- High wind potential
HEP:
- Multipurpose use
- 80% hydro potential is yet to be harnessed
64
What are the challenges for solar, wind and HEP in Kenya's energy mix over the next 25-50 years?
Solar:
- Grid integration
Wind:
- Land use conflicts
- Grid integration issues
HEP:
- High capital costs
- Long construction times
- Environmental and social impacts
All:
- Limited experience
- Storage
65
How has global energy usage changed from 2024 to 2025?
-Total = 16 billion toes to 18 billion toes
- Coal = 3.5 billion toes to 3.75 billion toes
- Gas = 3.4 billion toes to 4 billion toes
- Renewables = 1.5 billion toes to 2 billion toes
66
How has global percentage energy use by type changed from 2024 to 2025?
- Oil = 35% to 30%
- Coal = 25% to 23%
- Gas = 24% to 26%
- Renewables = 5% to 10%
67
What is the global energy mix?
Renewables = 15%
Non renewables = 86%
Fossil fuels = 80%
68
How is the global energy mix expected to change by 2040?
- Gas 30% increase
- Oil 5% increase
- Coal will stay the same
- Bioenergy 27% increase
- Nuclear 43% increase
- Hydro 100% increase
- Other renewables 100% increase
69
How will oil change in the global energy mix?
- US will become a net oil exporter by 2030
- Oil used by passenger vehicles will peak due to fuel efficiency and increased EV sales
- Demand will grow due to petrochemicals, trucks, aviation and shipping
- Reach 105 million barrels a day
- China will overtake US as largest consumer by 2030
- China's net import will reaches 13 million barrels per day by 2040
- Demand growth in oil is larger in India than China post 2025
- World total demand in 2018 is 4 billion tonnes but 4.5 billion tonnes in 2035
70
How will gas change in the global energy mix?
- US will become the world's largest LNG exporter
- Gas use rises by 45% by 2040
- 1/4 of global energy by 2040 and second largest fuel
- Usage will rise by 30% by 2030
71
How will other renewables change in the global energy mix?
- 40% of growth will be met by clean energy technology
- Solar will become the cheapest form of electricity in many countries
- 2/3 of global energy investment will be in renewables
- Account for 80% of energy production by 2030 (main contributor is wind)
- Go from 4% to 11% of global energy mix
72
How will nuclear change in the global energy mix?
- Extending life of other nuclear power stations will give 600TWh of additional electricity
- New power stations include SMRs which will create 1000TWh
73
How will global energy demand change?
- Grow 30% by 2040
- 1/3 will come from India
74
What are the opportunities for fossil fuels in the global energy mix over the next 30 years?
- Energy security
- Natural gas can be used as a transitional fuel
- Create jobs and provide income
- New technology like CCS
75
What are the challenges for fossil fuels in the global energy mix over the next 30 years?
- Climate change
- Geopolitical risks causing market volatility
- Environmental degradation
- Health impacts
76
What are the opportunities for nuclear in the global energy mix over the next 30 years?
- Net zero energy to meet targets
- Energy security
- Technological advancements like SMRs
77
What are the challenges for nuclear in the global energy mix over the next 30 years?
- High capital costs
- Long construction times
- Public opposition due to negative perception
- Nuclear waste management
- Concerns about terrorism attacks
- Decommissioning is complex
78
What are the opportunities for renewables in the global energy mix over the next 30 years?
- Align with climate action and net zero goals
- Technological advancements
- Cheap production provides jobs
- Energy security and independence
- Decentralised renewables offer access in remote/rural areas(meet UN SDG 7)
- Global public suppor
79
What are the challenges for renewables in the global energy mix over the next 30 years?
- Intermittency
- Energy storage infrastructure required
- Competition with other land uses
- Grid integration issues and bottlenecks
