carbon 2

energy security

the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at affordable prices

• Energy secure countries are those that will be able to meet all or most of their energy demands from within their country

Energy use

• provides light

• power for transport

• warms and cools homes

• powers domestic appliance

• vital for communication

Consumption of energy demand is increasing as a result of

• Global population growth

• Development and rising standard of living

• The essential nature of energy to our everyday life

energy mix

• describes the combination of different energy sources that are used to meet a country’s total energy demand

energy types

• Non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas

• Renewable energy such as wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity and solar

• Recyclable fuels such as nuclear energy, biomass and general waste

energy security increases as….

• Energy security increases as dependence on imported energy sources decreases

• A country that depends massively on imported energy are at risk from sudden threats such as:

  • Artificial and abrupt changes in energy prices

  • Energy supplies being cut off by civil unrest or military campaigns

Factors affecting access to and consumption of energy

Physical Availability- If energy sources are not available within the country, the energy will have to be imported (adding to the overall cost of energy to the consumer)

Cost- 1. The cost of the physical exploitation

2. The cost of processing

3. The cost of delivery to the consumer

Economic development- higher the level of development and standard of living in a country, the less sensitive they are to energy costs

Climate- hot- high level of consumption as a result of extra energy to make the extremes of heat and cold more comfortable

Env priorities- Gov may opt for more expensive methods to meet their energy needs out of concern for env- reduce carbon emission

France and usa energy consumption

France is 243 mtoe compared to the USA at 2,224 mtoe

• The USA has a significantly higher population of 334 million compared to 65.6 million living in France

• The size of the USA results in the country experiencing extremes of heat and cold which requires huge amounts of energy (for heating and lighting) to counteract them

• The USA only has 10% coming from renewable energy and 8% from nuclear 

• France has 10% from renewables and 41% coming from nuclear energy

major players in energy

• TNCs- involved in a variety of operations including exploring, extracting, transporting, refining and producing petrochemicals

• OPEC- able to control the amount of gas and oil in the global market along with their prices

• energy companies

• consumers

• governments

uncoventional sources of fossil fuels

have the potential to help meet future energy demands

• Tar sands

• Oil shale

• Shale gas

• Deepwater oil

Benefits of unconventional sources of fossil feuls

• provide countries that currently rely on imported energy the possibility of greater energy security

• provide a source of fuel whilst renewable energy sources are developed further

• provides jobs and boosts local economy

costs of unconventional sources of fossil fuels

• exploitation threatens the carbon cycle and contribute to global warming

• extraction is expensive and requires complex technology

• causes env damage

clean energy- alternative to fossil fuels

• Renewable sources such as hydro, wind, solar, geothermal and tidal energy

• Recyclable sources such as nuclear power and biofuels

why some countries have better renewable energy

• physical geography- coats or heated rocks by magma or long sunshine hours

benefits of renewable energy

• will not run out

• provides env benefits - reduces greenhouse gases

• save money in the long term

• reduces a countries reliance on importing from abroad

• creates employment- usa 3x more than ff sector

costs of renewable energy

• not suitable for all countries as it is determined by physical geography

• high costs in the short term

• some negative impacts on env- glooding valleys for HEP dams

• NIMBY- protest if too close to home

biofuels

derived immediately from living matter, such as agricultural crops

• converted into ethanol or biodiesel

IN BRAZIL

• to improve its energy security

• leading exporter of sugar and ethanol as it is largest prodcer of sugar cane

HOWEVER led to displacement of other agriculture- cattle