energy supply in UK

types of energy

renewable:

biomass

wind

hydro

tidal

geothermal 

wave

solar

non-renewable:

fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil)

wind

turbines use wind to turn, energy created

Advantage- in 2014, met 10% of UK’s electricity demand

Disadvantage-can be unlikeable: danger to birds, noise pollution, unaesthetic

biomass

two ways to make it-Burn dung, plant matter.       Production of biofuel which is processing specifically grown plants e.g. sugar cane

Advantage: easily producable

Disadvantage:fuel wool limited, burning organic materical is bad for the environment, limits space for crops

hydroelectric

use water to turn turbines, creating electricity

advantage: important energy source in several countries, contributes to 85% of global renewable energy.

disadvantage: large dams expensive and controversial

geothermal

water heated underground in contact with hot rocks. steam moves turbines for energy.

advantage: provides 30% of energy in Iceland

disadvantage: limited to tectonically active countries

wave

waves force air to chamber where it turns turbine linked to generator

advantage: portugal built world’s first wave farm, generating electricity since 2008.

disadvantage: costs are high, and there are environmental concerns

solar

photovoltaic cells- convert sunlight into energy

advantage: great potential in LIC’s with high levels of sunlight. can sell surplus

disadvantage: seasonal, needs lots of space, expensive to install

tidal

turbines within dams built across estuairies use rising and falling tide for electricity

advantage: high predictability and reliability

disadvantage: high cost and environmental concerns

why is energy consumption increasing?

agriculture

industry

transport

urbanisation

wealth

technology

agriculture

higher demand for food, more intensive farming techniques, this includes machinery.

processing, manufacturing, transport= higher energy demans

industry

development of processing and manufcaturing industries

global energy demands increase as NEE industrialisation, future demans from LICs as they develop

transport

as car ownership grows, car manufacturing places have considerable demands on energy,

increase in production of electric cars

urbanisation

demand for energy for lighting, cooking, domestic appliances, and heating increases

Wealth

people energy demand grows with increased purchases of domestic appliances and leisure and recreation activities

technology

technological advances allow fossil fuels exploitation from challenging environments deep below ocean, more energy reqired to fuel machinery

use of technology, and production of technology, and transportation increase energy demand

factors affecting energy supple

politics

physical

cost of production and exploitation

technology

politics

Affect decisions about which energy to exploit and from which countries energy can be obtained.

Example: Uk- government decided to cut subsides (the push) for renewable energy such as solar and wind

physical

geology of area determines location and availability of fossil fuels.

cost of production and exploitation

some energy sources are costly to exploit. oil rigs and pipelines require huge investment. 

Nuclear power stations expensive to build

technology

advancements have allowed energy sources in remote or difficult environments (north sea and artic) to be exploited. this reduces costs.

e.g exploitation of shale gas by fracking

impacts on energy insecurity-  food

food production uses 30% of global energy e.g. store farm produce

if run out of energy, lose majority of good.

agriculture also uses biofuel to generate electricity, raising food prices, as land that is used for food, now used for biofuel

impacts on energy insecurity-  industry

energy essential for industry as source of power

some LICs suffer frequent shortfalls in electricity and subsequent power outs, production low, if run out of energy loss of manufactured goods exported

impacts on energy insecurity-  conflict

shortage of energy leads to political conflicts, knock on effect to food and industry

ways to increase energy supply

renewable sources

fracking

fracking

the extraction of natural gas

1. wellbore drill used, drill through layers of sediment 2500-3000m

2. once shale rock formation reached, drill turns 90 degrees and drills horizontally for 1.5km

3. special gun lowered and fired, creating series of small inch-long holes to burst through wells casing

4. wait three to four months, then pour fracking fluid into well

5. pressure so high it cracks the shale rock, through cracks trapped gas and oil escape

advantages to fracking

burning gas emits half the carbon dioxide than burning coal per unit of energy

disadvantages to fracking

3-6 million gallons of water used per well, water scarcity

earthquake risk

wells coated in steel and cement, but any negligence can cause cracks and contaminate water- highly toxic

methane leaks out during fracking process, highly potent

fracking research takes away time to research for renewable energies

hinkley plant point power station

cost £18 billion

completed by 2025, provides 7% of UK energy supply

owned by EDF, but has shares with China

‘new nuclear is essential part of our plan’

nuclear energy

advantages- construction of new plants provide job opportunities and boost local economy

disadvantages- expensive to build, high cost for procurring, decommissioning power plant is expensive and has long lasting effect to land, warm waste water harm local ecosystems and safe processing and storage of highly toxic and radioactive waste problem