Energy Security - Key Case Studies

Página 1

The UK

The UK has a neo-liberal approach to energy. Key players are thus TNCs such as BP, EDF and British Gas - the use of private sector companies means that they can respond quickly to changing market conditions and meet customer needs. However there is increasing government involvement in an attempt to reduce the energy gap and reduce carbon emissions, this is done on a national and local scale.

Consumption

The energy consumption has remained broadly stable since the 1970s - grown within transport use (40% of energy usage), shrunk in industry use.

Energy efficiency has been improved reducing the amount of fuel needed to carry out processes.

Trends

In electricity production there has been a large shift from coal to natural gas (Dash for Gas).

Increased renewable usage in electricity production.

The closure of coal fired power stations has created the potential for an emergence of an energy gap as there is no slack in the supply to meet the peak demand. However as such there has been no supply crisis.

In 1990, 67% of electricity was produced by coal, this has decreased to 33% in 2015. This is largely due to the perception of coal as the dirty fuel emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide. The Drax power station partially changed from coal to biomass.

Natural gas provides about 40% of the energy needed for electricity, the depleting North Sea supplies mean that the UK is no longer self sufficient and are connected to European pathways to compensate.

The UK government is keen to use nuclear power as the new alternative to coal as it is a much cleaner fuel. Hinkley Point C will provide 7% of the UK's electricity when completed but has a huge cost and negative public perception.

Over 15% of electricity is now produced by renewables with a target of 30% by 2020. The majority of this is gained through wind energy (8%). The potential for wave energy means it could be a solution to plugging the energy gap in the future.