eq2 Flashcards
(72 cards)
What is the relationship between GDP and energy use per capita
as GDP increases so does energy use per capita
whats primary energy
refers to natural energy resources that have not been converted into another form of energy. it includes non renewable sources such as fossil fuels-( coal, oil and gas), nuclear (uranium) and renewable ( hydro, solar, wind, biomass)
whats secondary energy
refers to what the primary source has been converted to, usually electricity. can be heating
why is the UK energy insecure
the UK now imports more energy than it produces, it has an energy deficit(energy demand is greater than supply)
talk about environmental priorities and why that makes a places energy mix vary.
uk- in 2015, the UK committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
norway- in 2015, Norway committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
norway is the 3rd largest exporter of hydrocarbons
talk about the technology in the UK and Norway and how it leads to an energy mix
uk- theres 150 years worth of reserves but its expenisve to extract- may get energy elsewhere
Norway- deepwater drilling allowed Norway and UK to extract North sea oil and gas
talk about political considerations of the UK and Norway and how it leads to an energy mix.
UK- the privatisation of Uks energy supply industry means overseas companies decide which energy sources are used to meet the UKs demand.- public concern is growing over new fracking sites
Norway- foreign companies cant own primary source sites here.
what are 6 reasons why energy mix varies
-physical availability-climate affects avalibality
-cost
-technology
-political considerations
-level of economic development
-environmental priorities- cultures view env differently eg russia sees natuer as a provider of resources
talk about the physical availability of energy in the uk compared to norway.
uk- used to depend heavily on domestic coal and now found oil reserves
Norway- steep valleys, plentiful rainfall and mountainous = HEP readily available
talk about the cost of energy resources in the uk and norway (extraction and hep)
uk- north sea oil is expensive to extract so if global prices fall, its less viable
Norway- the cost of HEP is low however the transfer of it to rural areas is expensive.
talk about level of economic development and why that makes a places energy mix vary.(prices)
Norway vs UK
UK- average annual household energy costs=£1300
GDP PER capita - 41200
Norway- average annual household energy costs=£2400uk
GDPPC - 61500
unconventional fossil fuels: deep water oil
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
explanation-
found in Gulf of Mexico, where one of the largest and deepest oil fields is Atlantis
drilling for oil in deep seawater
-positives-
improve a countries energy security- gives domestic (in country) energy supply
many barrels can be produced
-negatives-
drilling into deep water is not easy and there are hurricanes as well as long distances to shore
-long pipelines needed
what happens if a chokepoint is blocked
energy prices can rise quickly
talk about an energy pathway disruption that occurred in the uk
during a stormy winter in 2013, UK gas reserves fell to 6 hours worth as storm damage paralysed a pipeline.
despite the increasing concern about carbon emissions, what is still used
fossil fuels
4 ways we can transport energy
-pipeline overland ( oil and gas)
-bulk carrier ships (coal and uranium)
- tankship (coal and LNG)
-underwater cables (electricity)
what are the 4 unconventional fossil fuels
deep water oil, tar sands, oil shale, shale gas (fracking)
physical obstacles to energy pathways
vast distances
-hurricane season
-difficult terrain
-seas/oceans
-natural hazards (earthquakes)
unconventional fossil fuels: tar sands
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
explanation-
tar sands are a mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen (very viscous oil). the oil is too thick to be pumped from the ground, instead it must be taken from an open pit, or strip- mined. To recover the oil, it must be separated from the sands using very hot water diluted with lighter hydrocarbons
-positives-
when oil prices are high, it becomes economical to extract the oil from the sands
its raised GDP per capita in some places
-negatives-
amount of energy needed - contribution to global warming
Mining process leaves scars on the landscape
Impacts on wildlife and people
unconventional fossil fuels: oil shale
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
explanation-
contains solid bituminous material (kerogen) that forms when slit and organic matter were heated and pressurised under water , but not enough to turn it into oil. oil shale van be mined, but must be heated to a high temp to release the oil
-positives-
The royal Dutch shell has developed a plan to heat shale underground surrounded by a freeze wall so that the kerogen seeps out into drilled holes for collection
provides a domestic/ reliable supply
-negatives-
expensive and releases greenhouse gasses
disturbs land vegetation cover
produces waste- water and air pollution
unconventional fossil fuels: shale gas (fracking)
- explanation-
-positives-
-negatives-
explanation-
natural gas, mostly methane trapped inside impermeable rocks, so it cannot be extracted by normal drilling. instead the rock must be broken to free the gas which is done by hydraulic fracturing (fracking); involves horizontal and vertical drilling
-positives-
increasing energy reserves for a country and reducing needs for imports
its a flexible energy source
-negatives-
many drill sites are needed.
lowered local groundwater levels
chemical contamination
adds to greenhouse effect
subsidence
shale gas= fossil fuel
in the early 1970s, western countries experienced an energy crisis, why
OPEC placed an embargo on the sales of crude oil to the usa, Japan, uk and the Netherlands
what an embargo
a complete ban on trade
what have drastic increases in oil prices lead countries to do
the unconventional oil and gas revolution (shale gas) that has signalled a new era of fossil fuel abundance
COP26
