Energy Security

Energy Security

1. TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE WORLD ENERGY SECURE AT PRESENT
1. different types of energy sources
  1. Renewable
    1. Wind
    2. Solar
    3. Hydroelectric
    4. Geothermal
  2. Non-renewable
    1. Coal
    2. Oil
    3. Gas
  3. recyclable
2. Access to and consumption of energy resources
  1. Resource availbality often depends on domestic supply
    1. China has a lot of coal reserves which is why 70% of energy there is produced using coal
    2. Russia has lots of natural gas and oil reserves
    3. The UK has coal, but because it has become cheaper to import many mines were abandoned
  2. HIC countries and Industrialised countries use more than under-developed ones
3. demand for energy is growing
  1. As population rises
  2. As countries develop economically BRICS
  3. As the middle-class increases and standards of living rise
2. WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF AN INCREASINGLY ENERGY INSECURE WORLD
1. Energy pathways and infrastructure
  1. The Eastern Pacific Trans Siberian Pipeline is being built so Russia can export its oil to more different countries, however it goes through Amur Leopard territory (as few as 70 left in the Wild) and the Starits of Malacca which are a piracy hotspot
2. Economic risks
  1. There may be a rise in prices of energy as sources become rarer
  2. Make the gap between those with and those without greater
3. Political risks
  1. This will give more power to players
    1. Gazprom cut off energy supplies to the Ukraine in 2008 when they were thinking about joining NATO
  2. More policies will be made with energy as a consideration
4. Led to exploration in environmentally sensitive areas
  1. ANWR may contain 30% of worlds undiscovered natural gas reserves, 15% of oil
    1. But also home to animals sensitive to human disturbances, many of which are already endangered, as well as key breeding ground for migratory birds
  2. The Amazon Rainforest is through to contain gas and oil reserves
    1. However to extract these deforestation would have to take place and the amazon are known as th lungs of the Earth
      1. It would also open up a pathway for illegal loggers and poachers
  3. Or technically difficult
    1. Tar Sands, large reserves in Canada and Venezuela
      1. However $15 per barrel whereas conventional oil is $2
      2. 3:1 water usage
    2. Fracking
      1. Reserves are found all over the World
      2. High risk of contamination, could lead to increase of gas in water which has made it flammable
5. Energy TNCs and cartels are increasingly important players
  1. OPEC produce 45% of global crude oiled 18% of gas, they set prices and production quotas according to supply-and-demand conditions
  2. GAZPROM control 1/3 of global natural gas reserves, and supply 25% of the EU's supply
3. WHAT MIGHT THE WORLD'S ENERGY FUTURE BE
1. Uncertainty over reserves
  1. Peak Oil 2010-2030
  2. Peak Coal to be between 2040-60
  3. Peak Gas 2020-2040
  4. But we also don't know how future technology will develop to do with renewables
    1. Costs of solar and wind have been consistently going down
2. Uncertainty over demand
  1. Low-energy solutions may be developed
3. Could lead to increased geo-political tension
4. How to meet future needs without environmental degradation
  1. Solutions such as carbon capture-and-storage or carbon credits

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	Created by Marika Rutlin almost 8 years ago