Energy Security

Energy Security

Renewable Energy - energy from a source that is not depleted when used, e.g. wind, solar power, tidal, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave, biomass

Non-Renewable Energy - energy existing in finite quantity and not able to be replenished, e.g. coal, oil, gas

Environmental Costs

• Non-renewable
  • Coal
    • greenhouse gasses
    • opencast mining (scars the landscape)
    • enhanced greenhouse effect
    • visually ugly
    • acid rain
  • Oil
    • leakages
    • acid rain
    • greenhouse gasses
    • enhanced greenhouse effect
  • Natural gas
    • greenhouse effect
    • enhanced greenhouse effect
  • Nuclear
    • water taken from rivers and lakes to cool
    • releasing water back at a different temperature and disturb natural ecosystem
    • radiation leak to the environment e.g. Great Tohoku Earthquake 2001 in Japan. Fukushima plant meltdown or Chernobyl nuclear
    • nuclear waste
• Renewable
  • Solar
    • Large amount of land for solar farms
    • use toxic materials to make the PV cells
    • To make them they produce greenhouse gasses
  • Wind
    • Produce noises - could upset animals e.g. cows - they produce less milk
    • Flocks of birds killed from the blades
    • Large amount of land used
    • Visual pollution
  • Tidal/Wave
    • barrier stops marine animals moving (River Seven)
    • possible noise pollution

Energy Demand

Energy Demand - the need or desire for energy

Energy consumption - the availability and use of energy

In many places demand for energy is fully met, therefore demand is matched by consumption
However, demand can exceed availability

• Energy is used for a wide variety of purposes:
  • Generating electricity
  • Providing entertainment
  • Propelling transport
  • Lighting and heating homes/business
  • Powering industry

• The Future
  • Global geographical variations in energy demand increases
  • China and India see the greatest rises
  • Europe possibly experiences falls in demand due to improved efficiency
  • Consumption in the Developing world doubles
  • Increase of ⅓ in the Developing world
  • Energy consumption in ‘2 worlds’ becomes approximately equal

Types of Energy

Coal

• Non-renewable
• It is a combustible, sedimentary rock formed of converted residual plant matter and solidified below overlying rock strata
• Coal releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants
• Coal is easy to burn
• Coal is inexpensive compared to other finite resources
• Coal mining ruins landscape
• Power stages are large and ugly
• Coal is easily transportable
• Fairly reliable energy source
• Coal mines are found in the USA, China, Australia and India

Natural Gas

• Non-renewable
• A methane-rich gas found underground. It can contain water vapour, sulphur compounds and other non-hydrogen gasses such as carbon dioxide.
• Natural gas is less harmful than coal and gas
• Doesn’t leave any residue
• Natural gas can be piped into houses for heating and cooking purposes
• Has a good yield for energy
• Can have gas leaks which can cause environmental issues
• Releases greenhouse gases when burnt
• Most of Europe receive gas from Russia. It is a long distance so they put pipes and also they have political issues so could turn off the supply
• Examples are North Sea and Russia

Nuclear Fission

• Non-renewable (could be recyclable)
• The division of a heavy nucleus into two parts, usually accompanied by the emission of neutrons (neutrally charged particles inside the nucleus), gamma radiation (high-energy radiation) and energy release. This…