Class notes on IB ESS Unit 7: Climate Change and Energy Production. Detailed explanations and examples needed for the exam and for writing comprehensive essays. Evaluations made about different types of renewable and non-renewable methods of energy production. Highly relevant topic of climate chang...
unit 1 notes( evs, law of thermodynamics and equilibrium)
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Chapter 7: Climate change and energy production
7.1 Energy choices and security
Fossil fuels:
A fossil fuels is a natural fuel derives from the remains of ancient organisms such as plants
and animals, transformed over millions of years through geological processes, including coal,
oil and natural gas
Energy security:
The ability to secure affordable, reliable, and sufficient energy supplies for the needs of a
particular country
What factors have an impact on energy choices?
Availability of supply – within national borders or not
Technological developments – finding new sources of energy e.g shale oil and harnessing
wave power
Politics – can lead to conflict over energy supplies or choices to use more expensive domestic
supplies for increased security, this may also impact the decision to go nuclear or not
Economics – globalization of economies make it uneconomic to produce your own power
and cheaper to import it
Cultural attitudes – our love of the motor car powered by fossil fuels means we are very
reluctant to give them up or change to electric cars
Sustainability – only renewable energy sources are sustainable yet account for a small
percentage of world energy supply
Environmental considerations – backlash against nuclear power generation – being phased
out in Germany when people felt it was too danger after the Fukushima accident
How can the security of a country increase?
Diversification: when a country diversified its sources of energy, relying on a mix of fossil
fuels, renewables, and nuclear power, it becomes less vulnerable to disruptions in anu one
sector – this diversity helps ensure a steady and reliable energy supply
Investment in renewables: embracing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind,
enhances security by decreasing reliance on finite fossil fuels – renewable technologies can
provide a more sustainable and resilient energy supply
Infrastructure development: building and maintaining a robust energy infrastructure
including power grids and storage facilities, ensuring the smooth transmission of energy,
contributing to increased energy security
Diversification of suppliers: Engaging with multiple energy supplies, both domestically and
internationally, helps mitigate risks associated with dependence on a single source – it adds
flexibility and resilience to the country’s energy supply chain
How can the security of a country decrease?
Dependence on a single source: if a country heavily depends on a single source e.g oil or gas,
disruptions on that source e.g due to geopolitical conflicts or natural disasters, can lead to
shortages and decreased energy security
, Inadequate infrastructure: poorly maintained or outdated energy infrastructure can lead to
inefficiencies and vulnerabilities – transmission losses, lack of storage and outdated
technologies can contribute to a decrease in energy security
Overreliance on imports: if a country relies too heavily on energy imports without sufficient
diversification of source of suppliers, it becomes more susceptible to disruptions in the
global energy market, geopolitical tensions or change in trade dynamics
Political instability: political instability or conflicts in energy-producing regions can disrupt
the supply chain, leading to shortages and increased energy insecurity
Ukraine-Russia gas disputes:
After the breakup of the USSR, Russia exported gas to Ukraine at below market price
Some 80% of Russian gas flows through Ukraine and European destinations
In 2006, Russia cut off supplies to Ukraine as they had not paid their debts and were using
has intended for the rest of Europe
The dispute continued until 2010 when an agreement was signed
Russia had decided to cut off supplies of has to Ukraine – Russia’s Gazprom (multinational
energy corporation) had warned Ukraine that it would turn off the taps if it did not receive
money in its account to pay down Ukraine’s gas debts to Russia
Russia’s decision should have no immediate impact on Ukraine, as Ukraine can draw on its
reserves – the EU also obliges its members states to have 90 days of gas supplies in reserve
Russia’s decision, however, raising long-term prospects as the dispute between Russia and
Ukraine would, if extended, amount to a test of Ukraine’s willingness to deliver gar to the EU
from its shocks while itself is cut off from fresh supplies of gas
USA’s enhanced energy security due to shale oil:
The 'Shale Revolution' refers to the combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal
drilling that enabled the US to significantly increase its production of oil and natural gas,
particularly from tight oil formations, which now account for 36% of total US crude oil
production
This new production capacity has reduced the US's dependence on oil imports from overseas
and continues to provide an important economic boost as the country recover from the
2008 recession
The result of this is that some predict the USA may change from being a net importer of oil
to being the world's largest exporter by 2020 , pumping 11.6 barrels a day of crude oil -
others think this is overestimated
Danish wind farms:
Wind energy converts the kinetic energy in the wind to mechanical energy which drives a
wind turbine to produce electricity
Denmark produces over 30% of its energy requirements from wind energy
This is more than any other country
The reason for this is that he government drove the change - in the 1970s, much of
Denmark's energy was from coal-fired power stations but the government wanted to reduce
carbon emissions - there was a ban on nuclear power plants and wind power was seen as
the solution
Although the wind speeds in Denmark are not particularly high, there are shallow waters
offshore where the turbines can be sited and then linked to the national grid onshore
, Denmark is linked to the electricity grids of neighbouring countries and can buy electricity
from them if the wind drops and sell it if their own demand is less than that generated
Impacts of burning of fossil fuels:
The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, releases CO2 into the
atmosphere
When we use these fuels for activities like generating electricity, powering vehicles, or
heating homes, the carbon stored in these fuels combines with oxygen from the air during
combustion, forming CO2
This process is part of the carbon cycle - unlike natural sources like CO2, like volcanic
eruptions which are balanced by natural sinks such as forests and oceans, the burning of
fossil fuels adds extra CO2 to the atmosphere that has been stored for millions of years
beneath the earth's surface
This additional Co2 traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and
global warming
Why can we only estimate how long our fossil fuels will last for?
Estimating the exact duration of fossil fuel reserves is challenging due to several factors:
Firstly, the actual amount of fossil fuels underground is not precisely known
While we have estimates based on geological surveys and explorations, the variability in the
Earth's crust makes it difficult to determine the exact quantity
Secondly, extraction technologies and economic factors influence how much of the known
reserves can be economically recovered
As technology advances, we may discover more efficient ways to extract fossil fuels or tap
into previously inaccessibly reserves
Thirdly, changes in energy consumption patterns and the development of alternative energy
sources can influence the rate at which we use fossil fuels
If there's a significant shift towards renewable energy, for example, the demand for fossil
fuels may decrease
Lastly, geopolitical factors and government policies can impact the accessibility and
utilization of fossil fuels
Political decisions, such as embargoes or environmental regulations, can affect the
extraction and consumption rates
Due to these uncertainties and the dynamic nature of technological, economic and
geopolitical factors, we can only provide estimates rather than precise timelines for the
duration of fossil fuel availability
Energy sources:
Energy About Advantages Disadvantages
source
Coal A fossil fuel formed Reserves are widely distributed and Combustion releases pollutants e.g
(NR, FF) from the remains of abundant in many regions – sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
ancient plants, provide stable and reliable source particulate matter, CO2 – air and water
burned to generate of energy supply pollution, acid rain, smog and climate
heat and electivity in High energy density meaning it change
power plants. provides significant amount of Exposure to coast dust, combustion
energy per unit volume or mass – emissions and pollutants can have adverse
efficient for electricity generation health effects on humans e.g respiratory
and industrial processes problems, cardiovascular diseases, cancer
Well established infrastructure for particularly in coal mining/burning regions
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