C3 – Energy Challenges and dilemmas Key revision Questions

Energy security definition

Reliable and affordable access to energy supplies

Energy security importance

Essential for economic stability and development

Primary energy source definition

Energy found in natural form before conversion

Secondary energy source definition

Energy produced from conversion of primary energy

Renewable energy definition

Energy from naturally replenished sources

Non renewable energy definition

Energy from finite fossil fuel or nuclear sources

Fossil fuels examples

Coal oil and natural gas

Global energy mix

Combination of energy sources used globally

Energy demand global trend

Increasing due to population growth and development

Emerging economies energy demand

Rapid growth in countries such as China and India

Per capita energy consumption

Average energy use per person

Energy consumption inequality

High income countries use more energy per person

UK energy mix trend

Shift from coal to gas and renewables

Energy transition definition

Shift from fossil fuels to low carbon sources

Decarbonisation definition

Reducing carbon emissions from energy production

Paris Agreement aim

Limit global warming to below two degrees

Energy geopolitics definition

Political influence over energy resources

OPEC role

Controls significant proportion of global oil supply

Energy security risk

Over reliance on imported fuels

Energy diversification strategy

Using multiple energy sources to reduce risk

Strategic petroleum reserve

Emergency oil stockpile for supply disruption

Peak oil theory

Idea that oil production will reach maximum then decline

Shale gas definition

Natural gas trapped in shale rock

Fracking process

Hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas

Fracking environmental concern

Risk of groundwater contamination

Energy return on investment definition

Energy gained compared to energy invested

Coal advantage

Cheap and abundant

Coal disadvantage

High carbon emissions

Oil advantage

High energy density

Oil disadvantage

Price volatility

Natural gas advantage

Lower carbon emissions than coal

Natural gas disadvantage

Methane leakage risk

Nuclear power advantage

Low carbon electricity generation

Nuclear power disadvantage

Radioactive waste disposal

Uranium resource

Fuel used in nuclear fission

Nuclear fission definition

Splitting atoms to release energy

Renewable energy advantage

Sustainable and low emissions

Renewable energy limitation

Intermittency of supply

Wind power advantage

Low operating emissions

Wind power limitation

Dependent on wind speed

Solar power advantage

Abundant energy source

Solar power limitation

Reduced output in cloudy climates

Hydroelectric power advantage

Reliable and flexible generation

Hydroelectric limitation

Environmental impact on river ecosystems

Tidal power advantage

Predictable energy generation

Tidal power limitation

High installation costs

Biomass definition

Organic material used for fuel

Biofuel example

Ethanol from crops

Biofuel issue

Competes with food production

Energy poverty definition

Lack of access to modern energy services

Energy poverty impact

Limits education health and economic growth

Energy efficiency definition

Using less energy for same output

Insulation benefit

Reduces household energy demand

Smart grid definition

Electricity network using digital communication

Smart meters purpose

Monitor household energy use

Carbon capture and storage definition

Technology capturing carbon emissions from power plants

CCS limitation

High cost and energy requirement

Energy storage importance

Balances renewable intermittency

Battery storage example

Lithium ion batteries

Pumped storage hydro

Stores energy by pumping water uphill

National Grid role UK

Balances electricity supply and demand

Baseload power definition

Minimum level of electricity demand

Interconnector definition

Cable linking electricity grids between countries

UK gas imports

Significant proportion imported

Energy price volatility cause

Geopolitical conflict and supply disruption

Russia gas exports significance

Major supplier to Europe

Energy independence definition

Country meets energy needs domestically

Environmental impact fossil fuels

Air pollution and greenhouse gases

Greenhouse effect definition

Trapping of heat by atmospheric gases

Carbon dioxide role

Major greenhouse gas from fossil fuels

Climate change link energy

Fossil fuel burning increases global temperatures

Renewable capacity growth trend

Rapid increase in wind and solar globally

Offshore wind UK

Major area of renewable investment

Energy policy definition

Government strategy on energy production and use

Feed in tariff definition

Payment to encourage renewable generation

Subsidy definition energy

Financial support to lower cost of energy source

Carbon tax definition

Tax on carbon emissions to reduce pollution

Emissions trading scheme

Market for buying and selling carbon allowances

Sustainable development definition

Meeting present needs without harming future generations

Energy conservation definition

Reducing overall energy use

Demand side management

Encouraging consumers to shift energy use

Electric vehicles role

Reduce transport emissions

Hydrogen fuel potential

Low carbon fuel if produced sustainably

Green hydrogen definition

Hydrogen produced using renewable electricity

Blue hydrogen definition

Hydrogen produced from gas with carbon capture

Life cycle assessment energy

Evaluates environmental impact of energy source

Externality definition energy

Unintended cost such as pollution

Energy security UK strategy

Increase renewables and domestic production

Globalisation energy trade

Countries interconnected through fuel trade

Resource nationalism definition

Countries restrict export of energy resources

Just transition definition

Fair shift to low carbon economy

Decentralised energy system

Small scale local generation

Microgeneration example

Solar panels on homes

Capacity factor definition

Actual output compared to maximum possible

Wind capacity factor UK

Higher offshore than onshore

Solar latitude effect

Output lower further from equator

Urban energy demand

High due to density and transport

Industrial energy use

Major consumer of electricity and fuels

Transport sector energy use

Dominated by oil products

Energy demand seasonal variation

Higher in winter in cold climates