APES 6.2 notes

Global Energy Consumption Study Notes

    • Government regulations regarding energy use and environmental impact.

Trends in Energy Consumption

  • Energy consumption trends indicate that:

    • About 20% of the global population consumes 80% of the world's energy resources.

Developed vs Developing Nations

  • Developed countries typically show a higher energy consumption per capita.

  • The population in developing nations is larger, leading to total energy consumption values that may rival those of developed nations despite lower per capita use.

  • For example, the average resident in the United States utilizes 3 to 5 times more energy than the global average.

Fossil Fuels as Primary Energy Source

  • Fossil fuels remain the most utilized energy resource, which includes:

    • Oil

    • Coal

    • Natural Gas

Global Production Rankings of Fossil Fuels (According to Data from EIA, CIA, ENI, BP)

  1. United States of America

  2. Russia

  3. Iran

  4. Canada

  5. Qatar

  6. China

  7. Norway

  8. Australia

  9. Saudi Arabia

  10. Algeria

Breakdown of World Energy Consumption by Fuel (2015 Data)

  • Oil: 4331 Mtoe (32.89%)

  • Coal: 3840 Mtoe (29.16%)

  • Natural Gas: 3082 Mtoe (23.40%)

  • Nuclear: 2577 TWh (4.43%)

  • Hydroelectric: 3946 TWh (6.78%)

  • Wind: 841 TWh (1.45%)

  • Solar: 253.0 TWh (0.43%)

  • Biofuel: 75 Mtoe (0.57%)

  • Other: 518 TWh (0.89%)

  • Fossil Fuels Total: 85.5%

  • Renewable Total: 10.1%

Economic Development and Fossil Fuel Consumption

  • Economic advancements lead to increased energy use:

    • Higher affluence translates into greater energy demand and reliance on fossil fuels.

    • Increased production of oil leads to higher gasoline availability for vehicles.

    • More coal and natural gas are utilized for electricity generation and manufacturing purposes.

Factors Affecting Energy Source Use

  • Energy choices are influenced by:

    • Availability of sources: Availability of natural reserves and access to these resources can dictate energy sources.

    • Price dynamics: Fluctuations in energy prices depending on supply and demand, which can also be influenced by the discovery of new reserves or depletion of current ones.

    • Government Regulation:

    • Governments can regulate by either limiting fossil fuel use through taxation or incentivizing renewable energy investments through rebates and tax credits.

Variation of Energy Sources by Geography

  • The choice of energy sources varies significantly by state, availability, and government regulations.

    • Example: By 2023, diverse types of energy will contribute significantly to net electricity generation in different regions.

Renewable Energy Production by Country

  • Share of electricity production that comes from renewable sources as of 2023 includes:

    • Hydropower

    • Solar energy

    • Wind energy

    • Biomass & Waste

    • Geothermal

    • Wave and tidal energy

Other Factors Influencing Energy Source Choice

  • Technological advancements in mechanics and labor availability.

  • Political influences and stability in energy policies.

  • Environmental considerations and the push towards sustainability goals.

  • Cultural attitudes towards energy use and environmental impact.

The Rise of Natural Gas

  • Natural gas has surged in use due to advances in fracking technology:

    • The introduction of slickwater and horizontal drilling techniques has vastly increased the productivity of fracking wells.

    • This surge coincided with high global fossil fuel prices, contributing to a fracking boom in the early 2000s.

Pricing Effects on Energy Choices

  • Natural gas and other fossil fuel prices have shown significant variability:

    • Global natural gas prices have fluctuated from around $2.65 to $8.10 per million BTU from 1984 to 2012 in various markets including the USA, EU, and Japan.