Energy security
Overview
ENERGY SECURITY

Why is energy security a problem for the world?

Energy supply, demand and security

Investigate the different types of energy, classification and their impacts.

What is the distribution of energy resources?

What are the trends in global energy and demand?

Why is energy security rising?

The impacts of energy insecurity

What are the developments in energy infrastructure?

What are the tensions, costs and conflicts of energy insecurity?

What are the costs and benefits of exploiting an area for the resources?

Why have TNCs economical and political power increased?

Energy security and the future

What is the range of supply and demand and economic projections to develop uncertainty?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of energy options?

What is the effect of the 'business as usual' framework' on energy security?

What is the sustainability of radical policies and what are the player's attitudes?

Energy supply, demand and security
Investigate the different types of energy, classification and their impacts.
ENERGY-what the world needs to ‘fuel’ everything and is derived from a diversity of sources and today most come from fossil fuels and much is consumed in the form of electricity.
ENERGY MIX-this includes the different sources of energy that a country uses in meeting its energy needs.
What are the different types of energy sources?
Examiner’s tip: use the threefold classification of energy sources rather than the twofold distinction between renewable and non-renewable sources.
Renewable
RENEWABLE-they are flows of nature which are continuous and can be constantly renewed.
Wind
Efficient because they are often located in areas of high volume of wind (often coastal areas).
Minimal pollution; there is only visual and noise pollution.
No lung conditions aggravated by other forms of energy.
No nuclear waste.
Threat to animals
Hydropower
Damage rivers.
Pollute waters, flood forests and give off greenhouse gases.
¼ of human methane produced.
Large amount of areas flooded, large areas of vegetation drowned by lake decays which produce methane and CO2.
Tidal power
Barrages built to harness tidal power.
Destroys wildlife habitats both upstream and downstream.
Solar
Solar could supply energy to 4 billion people in 2030.
Large tracts and long transmission lines in the desert.
Large areas need to be covered with photovoltaic cells.
Non-renewable
NON-RENEWABLE-their exploitation and use will eventually lead to their exhaustion (they are finite), e.g. oil and gas.
Examiner’s tip: remember that two of the main primary energy sources are coal and natural gas, but they also produce secondary energy (electricity).
Coal
Produced by deep or open cast mining.
Releases greenhouse gases.
Heavy and bulky to transport.
Typical mistake: many candidates think that oil is still a major fuel in the generation of electricity, but in fact it has been superseded by gas.
Oil and natural gas
Fields are often in environmental sensitive areas, e.g. the Arctic.
Danger of oil spills and gas leaks causing further damage to vegetation.
Burning oil and natural gas releases greenhouse gases.
Geothermal energy
Large scale use is limited to volcanic areas, e.g. Iceland.
Risk of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and emissions of sulphuric gases.
Typical mistake: don’t confuse traditional biomass (e.g. wood) with modern biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol.
Biomass
Methane gas (e.g. in Rural China) has little greenhouse emission.
It releases greenhouse gases.
Combined heat and power
More efficient
Greenhouse gases released.
Recyclable
RECYCLABLE-their resources have a renewable stock, which can be replenished with careful management.
Examiner’s tip: don’t become obsessed with nuclear accidents; take a balanced view of the costs and benefits of nuclear power.
Nuclear
No CO2 is released.
No safety when storing