Carbon cycle and Energy Security - country examples

China

70% of electricity generated by coal power stations (China has large domestic reserves of coal) contribution to large CO2 emissions and poor air quality across China

Currently world's largest emitter of CO2

Has made big investments in renewable energy recently e.g. H.E.P. 3 gorges dam, solar and wind

Cheap photo-voltaic solar panels produced in China are bring the cost of this energy source down massively

USA

Main energy sources for electricity; gas 32%, coal 30%, nuclear 20%, renewable 18%

World's second largest emitter of CO2

Heavily reliant on oil for transportation

The recent shale gas boom has revolutionised the US energy market bring down the cost of energy and increasing US energy security

US has withdrawn from the Paris agreement on climate change

UK

Main energy sources for electricity; gas 45%, nuclear 22%, wind 18%

Energy security in the UK has begun to reduce as north sea oil and gas run out
UK still has large coal reserves but these are not being shunned in favour of gas (the dash for gas) due to cost and pressure to meet reduced CO2 emissions targets
Renewable energy share of electricity production has grown massively recently especially wind power which has great potential in the UK and which is falling in cost

UK currently faces a nuclear dilemma - nuclear power could provide lots of zero carbon electricity but at a high economic cost and public safety concerns are also a major issue

Fracking for shale gas could increase UK energy security but at a environmental cost and would be unpopular with much of the public

Norway

95% of Noways electricity is generated by H.E.P.

Oil is the major transport fuel

Norway is very energy secure with large reserves of oil and gas which it is able to export generating a great deal of wealth for the country

Iceland

With masses of cheap renewable electricity thanks to Geothermal power Iceland is a highly energy secure country

Geothermal power is used to generate electricity as well as to heat water which is transported to homes for heating and is even used to keep the streets of Reykjavik heated and free of snow and ice

Iceland does still rely on oil as a transport fuel however

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the number one producer and exporter of oil in the world as has the world's 2nd largest proven oil reserves

With massive oil and gas reserves Saudi Arabia is the dominant country within O.P.E.C.

Saudi Arabia has nationalised (Saudi Aramco) much of its massive energy industry is as a result very energy secure

Russia

With massive reserves of Oil and Gas Russia is very energy secure and a major exporter of energy

The state owned Gazprom is a major player in the world of energy and the Russian government has used its control of energy to exert influence over it neighbours e.g. Ukraine this has prompted fears in Europe over the danger becoming increasingly dependent on Russian gas