UK and Norway Case Study on Relying on Fossil Fuels

Question 1

UK Physical Availability to Energy Resources

Answer 1

Discovery of large reserves of North Sea Oil and gas

UK increased use after the 1970s greatly altering UK’s energy mix

Question 2

Norway Physical Availability to Energy Resources

Answer 2

As country mountainous, with steep valleys and plentiful rainfall, HEP is the natural energy choice

Cannot do solar energy due to high latitude location

Question 3

UK Importing Energy

Answer 3

2015:
third of UK fuels imports consisted of crude oil - 50% came from Norway

UK import liquid gas - 98% from Qatar which arrives by supertanker

Question 4

UK Costs of Energy Sources

Answer 4

North Sea oil is expensive to extract. Stocks of North Sea oil and gas are declining, forcing UK to import more

Question 5

Norway Technology

Answer 5

Norsk Hydro runs over 600HEP sites, which supply 97.5% of Norway’s renewable electricity

Question 6

Norway Costs of Energy Sources

Answer 6

Transfer of electricity from HEP production in remote regions to urban areas and isolated settlements is expensive

Question 7

UK and Norway Environmental Development

Answer 7

In 2015, committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emmission by 2030, compared to 1990 levels