Topic 9 - Consuming Energy Resouces Flashcards
(46 cards)
Non renewable (stock resources)
These are being used up and cannot be replaced
E.g. coal, oil and gas (fossil fuels)
Renewable (flow resources)
These will never run out and can be used over and over again
E.g. wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power
Recyclable
These provide energy from sources that can be recycled or reused
Reasons for global pattern of energy supply being uneven
Geology Relief Climate Accessibility Development
Geology
Different places have different types of geology
Coal - widely distributed with major reserves in USA, Russia and China
Countries on plate boundaries - access to geothermal energy
Relief
Regions with high rainfall relief often on HEP
Large volumes of water can travel down steep sided valleys and are often chosen for dam construction
E.g. three gorges dam in China
Climate
Exposed areas are best for wind e.g the London array in the North Sea
Places that receive long hours of sunlight and intense eradication are good for solar parks
Accessibility
Some resources are in remote areas - making it expensive to exploit and bring to consumers
620 million people do not have access to the electricity grid
Many rely on biomass instead
Development
Can influence a a regions ability to invest in and use new tech
They can develop new energy resources
Impacts of energy extraction / generation
Local
Wind farms
Some people think that it is unaesthetically appealing and does not fit in with the rural landscape
NIMBY opinion
Often leads to planning permission being rejected
E.g. Skegness UK
Impacts of energy extraction / generation
Regional
Tar sands
Extracting this raw material uses huge amounts of freshwater
This Increases water insecurity and water pollution as the toxic waste water is left in tailings ponds
Impacts of energy extraction / generation
Global
Coal
When the raw material is combusted to produce electricity, it releases carbon dioxide which contributes to the greenhouse effect which causes climate change
China has the highest overall emissions
Factors explaining global variation in energy consumption
Economic development
Economic sectors
Traditional fuel sources
Paris agreement
Economic development
Developed countries have high demands for energy and are able to invest in technology, so increasing national and individual energy consumption
Economic sectors
Growing population = better heating and more technology
Traditional fuel sources
In rural areas in developing countries - traditional biomass fuels for domestic use are the main energy use
No direct electricity in rural areas and urban supply is inconsistent e.g. sub Saharan Africa
Paris agreement
95 countries - emissions below a certain point
Consume oil
Use up
Produce oil
Make it
Peak oil
The global peak in production of oil before decline
What controls the price of oil
Movement of US dollar Alternative energy Exogenous shocks - natural disaster Supply and demand Market speculation
Energy security
Don’t want to rely on other countries and that they’ll always have access
ESPO pipeline
Positives :
Having access will reduce pressure on the Middle East
It allows delivery in just a few days rather when weeks
Negative:
Russia has history of turning off oil supply to countries
Relationship between China and Russia is not smooth
The Iraq war - 2003-2011
Iraq had 4th largest oil reserve
Conflict led to shortages in oil and increased prices
Other allies increased production to stabilise prices
