Geography A-level > 6.4 Energy Security > Flashcards

6.4 Energy Security Flashcards

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1
Q

energy security

A

the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price

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2
Q

what does short term energy security focus on?

A

the ability of the energy system to react fast to changes in balance of demand and supply for energy

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3
Q

what does long term energy security focus on?

A

deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs

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4
Q

countries that are energy secure are able to what?

A

meet all their energy demand from within their boundaries, requires economic wealth to access resources

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5
Q

why is energy security vital for a country?

A

vital for its economy and the well-being of its people

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6
Q

what does South Sudan suffer from?

A

not being able to export its natural resource of oil as it doesn’t receive investment from TNCs
-also has lack of infrastructure to use and exploit it to boost its economy

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7
Q

what is the Middle East known for being?

A

the world’s biggest consumer of energy, but also has the world’s largest reserves of oil
-this abundant energy is available for internal use and external trade

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8
Q

what is Norway known for?

A

one of Europe’s largest oil and natural gas exporter, using HEP for meeting majority of internal demand
-it is the UKs biggest trading partner for oil and gas

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9
Q

what problem did the UK face in the past with energy?

A

our sufficiency of energy
-did not have adequate quantity of fuel and services from the sources
-now have the national grid for distribution

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10
Q

how is energy security achieved?

A

diverse energy mix
-range of sources reduces dependence on one type of supply
different energy pathways
-securing multiple import routes and trade partners
efficiency and management
-technology, insulation and encouraging lower consumption reduces vulnerability to shortages
geopolitical alliances
-good relations with energy suppliers and internal energy orgs e.g. OPEC

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11
Q

what can threaten energy security?

A

-geopolitical conflict
-over reliance on imports
-natural disasters or climate change
-old infrastructure
-resource depletion

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12
Q

energy mix

A

the proportion of different energy sources used by a country to meet its energy demand

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13
Q

why is a balanced energy mix important?

A

it improves energy security

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14
Q

is France energy secure?

A

does not have a balanced energy mix- very nuclear power dominated

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15
Q

is Iceland energy secure?

A

yes, it is almost entirely renewable
-mainly HEP and geothermal

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16
Q

what are primary energy sources?

A

those that are consumed in raw form
e.g. burning coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy and renewable sources

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17
Q

what type of energy source is electricity?

A

secondary
-flows through power lines and infrastructure to power homes and buildings

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18
Q

how does Africa produce most of its energy?

A

burning biomass

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19
Q

implications of burning biomass for energy in African countries

A

creates lots of smoke, causing respiratory illnesses, reducing life expectancy
-developmental problems
-impacts long term learning (dark and unable to do homework at night with little firelight)

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20
Q

what is oil vital for?

A

manufacturing and power as it is very versatile
-use oil for materials as well, not just energy production

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21
Q

what % of oil reserves does the middle east have vs how much it supplies?

A

contains 50% of reserves vs supplies 30% of global oil proven reserves

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22
Q

what % of oil reserves does the US have vs how much it supplies?

A

has less than 2% of the world’s reserves, but produces 10% of the world’s oil

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23
Q

how has the USA tried to access more oil?

A

-recent fixation over Greenland to maintain energy security
-oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico (oil spills)
-fracking- accessing gas in underground rocks through hydraulic pressure- cause tremors
-tarsans- unconventional oil is collected in sand- causes lots of env destruction, land clearing etc

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24
Q

what was the deep water horizon incident?

A

in 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico, there was an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. The explosion killed 11 workers and caused the rig to sink, leading to a massive oil leak from the Macondo well. The well was finally capped after 87 days, during which an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil spilled, making it the largest marine oil spill in history.

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25
what are some important factors for achieving energy security?
-control over prices- controls inflation -control over supplies- VERY RARE -having a variety of energy source- diverse energy mix -political stability- in demand and supply regions
26
describe Japan's energy mix
Most import- dependent country in Asia -after 2011 Fukushima nuclear power disaster, uses natural ga d and coal imports energy mix- dominated by fossil fuels, but renewable sources like solar, HEP and wind are increasing -plans to decrease its reliance n oil and increase use of natural gas, coal, nuclear and renewable energy -in 2024, oil was 37% of total energy supply and coal was 26% of total energy supply
27
describe China's energy mix
between 1978 and 2010, energy demand grew by 7 times in China- driven by economic growth, rise of the middle class, heavy industrialisation and urbanisation -using less coal and oil, more gas and renewables -VERY SELF SUFFICIENT AND RICH IN COAL -uses HEP, invested lots in this- significant growth in wind and solar power too- good renewable user
28
what are factors that should be achieved for energy security?
-affordability and competitively priced energy supply -accessible and available energy supply -energy mix dependent on domestic rather than imported sources of energy -reliable and uninterrupted energy supply
29
what is base demand of energy?
the basic energy/ requirement of energy
30
describe the dimension of domestic vs foreign supply dependence for an energy mix
foreign supply dependence may be cheaper domestic supply dependence is safer
31
describe the dimension of primary vs secondary energy for an energy mix
modern societies are very dependent on secondary energy which is electricity
32
describe the dimension of renewable vs non-renewable energy for an energy mix
renewable input is not consistent or reliable, and global warming puts pressure on renewable input -changing the energy mix is difficult -developing wind and solar farms are very expensive
33
what factors can affect energy consumption?
-physical availability -cost -standard of living -environmental priorities -climate -economic development -public perceptions -technology
34
how has the UK reduced its energy consumption?
it has adopted energy-saving technologies e.g. home heating and vehicle engines -resulting in the UK consuming less energy in 2022 than in 1996 -more renewable sources being used
35
how has the UK become energy insecure?
the UK now imports more energy than it produced domestically- energy deficit -declining domestic North Sea oil and gas reserves have made the UK increasingly dependent on imported energy
36
what did the UK primarily rely on for energy source?
coal, until large reserves of North Sea oil and gas were discovered and dominated the UK energy mix -current technology ad environmental policy make coal extraction and use unrealistic and expensive
37
how does the UK aim to broaden its energy mix?
renewable sources- wind and solar and recyclable sources- nuclear power
38
what goal does France have for 2050?
net zero emissions -aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 -investing in efficiency, six new nuclear plants and renewable energy, notably offshore wind
39
what % of France's energy mix is nuclear power?
70%
40
what proportion of France's energy mix is renewable power?
combining solar, wind and hydro= 25%
41
what is the global trend of world energy demand?
it is increasing in a global scale -estimated to rise by 41% by 2035 (BP) -95% of this will come from the developing world
42
what is still the world's most common energy source?
OIL
43
why is oil the most common energy source?
-easy to transport (pipeline, ship, rail or road) -flexible (generate electricity, heat homes, power vehicles etc) -liquid -commonly found in 115 countries underground -cheap
44
what are examples of energy players on different scales?
TNCs, OPEC, consumers and governments
45
what are energy pathways?
the flow of energy between a producer and a consumer, and how it reaches the consumer
46
give some examples of energy pathways
shipping routes, pipeline, transmission lines, rail, road
47
what influences oil pricing?
price of oil and oil quality
48
what is the aim of oil pricing?
to avoid price fluctuations by ensuring future demand for supply in reliant industries e.g. airlines
49
what is the importance of futures market?
this is where the buyer agrees on delivery, the seller agrees to supply a fixed amount of oil with a fixed price to a fixed location -this reduces the risk of huge fluctuations in price -makes it easier for consumers that require energy often -otherwise, electricity prices would constantly be changing, affecting electricity companies, house budgeting etc
50
what was the UK's energy mix in 2024?
wind- 29% gas- 26% nuclear- 14% imports- 16% other renewables such as solar and hydro
51
when did the UK's final coal-fired power plant close?
September 2024
52
why have UK's average CO2 emissions fallen?
reduced coal use and higher renewable shares in the grid causing this decline
53
what are some issues with the UK relying on imports for energy?
we depend on interconnectors, costing over £250 million each month -geopolitical instability- supply risks when demand is high -energy profits and decisions often flow outside our borders with foreign investors and businesses involved
54
what is the main drawback of renewable energy sources?
they are intermittent -create problems in balancing supply and demand reliably and effectively -UK infrastructure cannot handle extensive imports of renewable energy
55
how can countries such as UK improve our renewable energy use?
industrial roof spaces- use of solar panels to boost solar energy production, reducing reliance on long distance transmission to reduce losses community energy schemes- rural land for community owned wind turbines or solar farms, promoting clean, local energy urban infrastructure- multistory car parks can be urban solar hubs, converting space into productive energy resources
56
explain how the government can be an energy player?
-national energy mix decisions e.g. recent decision for small nuclear plant/ reactor in Anglesey, North Wales government can provide subsidies to companies to invest in renewables or grants can be offered to home owners to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy demand
57
explain how generators and distributors can be energy players?
they provide vital infrastructure as part of the national grid -storms can cause damage to this
58
explain how environmentalists can be energy players?
they provide pressure to companies and organisations to adopt renewable energy sources, reduce carbon intensity etc -can pressure the government e.g. The bird charity RSPB has criticised a government decision to permit an offshore wind farm, external expected to harm birds feeding in the North Sea- feeding ground nearby
59
explain how consumers are energy players?
price sensitive to changes in energy prices and they can exert pressure on politicians consumers can invest in resources like solar panels and EVs, and participate in programs that influence demand
60
name some oil companies (TNCs)
BP- UK Shell- UK Chevron- USA ExxonMobil- USA
61
name some oil companies that are state owned
Saudi Aramco- Saudi Arabia Gazprom- Russia PetroChina- China Petrobas- Brazil (does operate internationally)
62
describe the Oil TNC Chevron
based in USA -discovered the world's largest oil field in Saudi Arabia in 1950s -oil and gas trader -operates in 80+ countries worldwide -employs 50,000 people globally
63
describe the oil TNC ExxonMobil
based in USA -considered a monopoly as it is one of the world's most profitable companies
64
describe the oil TNC BP
UK -originally British Petroleum, now transitioning its name to Beyond Petroleum to reflect its global reach and operation -operates in 61 countries and employs 100500 people
65
describe the state owned oil company GazProm
Russian owned -their largest company controlling 90% of the country's overall production of gas -overall capacity accounts for over 15% market share of the world's gas reserve -owns a gas pipeline network over 150,000km long
66
describe the state owned oil company PetroChina
China -very profitable Asian company -publicly traded in a few major stock exchanges, including NY, Hong Kong
67
Saudi Aramco
state owned oil company in Saudi Arabia- Saudi government holding the majority stake of over 81% -funds their economic diversification -employs 75,000 people -operations include exploration, production and refining of oil and gas
68
what does OPEC stand for?
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
69
how many member countries does OPEC have?
12 -accounts for estimated 44% of global oil production and 81.5% of the world's oil reserves
70
what is OPEC's aim?
-protect interests of member countries and achieve capital return to investors -fair and stable prices for producers -efficient economic and regular supply to consumer nations
71
what is OPECs role in energy supply?
sets oil production quotas for members in response to economic growth rates and demand/supply conditions -if demand rises= increased production to prevent sharp price rises -if demand falls= reduce production to maintain price aims to get fair price for members
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