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Changing patterns of energy consumption (Renewable energy (Solar energy -…
Changing patterns of energy consumption
Factors that have influenced the demand and production of oil
Political
International relations
Political instability
Emissions quotas
Carbon tax
NGO pressure
Social
Human cost of protecting supplies
Public image
Public health
Exploitation of workers and countries
Environmental
Enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
Oil spills
Damage caused by extraction
Economic
Transportation cost
Price of oil
Demand for oil
Finite supply
Domestic supplies
Increases in extraction costs
Investment in alternatives
Key oil terms
Peak oil - point at which maximum extraction of oil is reached and after which point the extraction of oil will reduce
OPEC - organisation of petroleum exporting countries - 12 members, controls over 40% of world's oil supply and over 20% of gas supply
Monopoly - any organisation, individual or company that controls enough market share to be able to influence the market place e.g. decreasing supply to increase price
Cartel - formal agreement between competing firms - formal organisation of producers and manufacturers who agree to fix prices, marketing and production
Corporate colonialism - involvement of TNCs in practice of colonialism - they have significant power over small LEDCs who will not question role of TNCs out of fear of losing investment
Renewable energy
Solar energy - solar power cells convert sunlight into electricity, using energy of speeding photons to create an electrical current within a solar panel
Wind energy - moves wind turbine which drives generator
Tidal energy - using motion of incoming and outgoing tide to create energy
Wave energy - using motion of waves
Geothermal energy - thermal energy from earth used to heat water - steam released used to drive turbines if not, used as a source of hot water
Biomass - using biological matter
HEP (hydroelectric power) - using power of falling water in rivers to drive generators - dams have to be built to create HEP
The Nuclear debate
Not renewable - uses uranium which is finite, however supply is much greater than fossil fuels and creates a lot less GHGs then fossil fuels: France and Lithuania are the biggest users
Advantages
technology to make nuclear power already exists
plentiful supply of Uranium - enough to last hundreds of years
Nuclear energy releases very low amount of GHGs
Reduces dependency on oil, coal and gas producing countries
Higher energy output for smaller input
Disadvantages
Risk of nuclear accidents e.g. Chernobyl and Fukushima
Transport of nuclear materials and waste is risky and expensive
Nuclear waste remains radioactive for thousands of years
There is belief that living near nuclear power stations increases risk of cancer - leukemia - people don't want nuclear power stations built near where they live
Mining for uranium is dangerous and can be polluting