- 2009 - 2013
- A pipeline created to reduced Europes energy dependence on Russian Gas.
- Goes thorugh Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.
- A cost of £8 billion.
- Supplied by the Caspian Region.
- Main supplier would be Iraq- 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.
- The pipe would have the capacity to transport 31 billion cubic metres a year.
- Will reduce Russias energy dominance (currently supplies a third of all European gas).
- Increases energy diversity, which increases energy security.
- The pipe goes through geopolitically tense countries such as Syria, Iran and Iraq.
- Could cause further tension between Russia and European states.
- Will harm agriculture to build the pipe.
- Doesn't decrease reliance on non-renewable resources.
Alaskan Tar Sands
- Located in North America, South of the Arctic Ocean.
- Tar is a combination of sand, clay, water and bitumen, they are extracted by mining and then refined to get the oil.
- Many undiscovered reserves.
- Enormous growth potential.
- In Alberta, jobs are created for Native Americans.
- Keeps oil prices down.
- Potential to produce 1.2 million barrels of oil a day.
- Air purity decreases by 40%.
- 2.9 million gallons of polluted water runs into streams- contains carcinogenic pollutants.
- Destoys cabon sinks - 30-40% in Alaskan coastal aeas.
- 50 squared miles now covered in toxic pools.
- TNCs Vs Locals and Environmentalists
Yasini National Park
- 1960's to present.
- Located in Ecuador, South America.
- Drilling will continue in 2016 by the company 'Petromazonas', they have permission to drill 100,000 hectares (10%) of the park.
- 50% of Ecuadors export income comes from oil,
- 45% of the population live in poverty.
- 900 million barrels available.
- Money generated through oil allows improvements in infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and military.
- Only 3% of the population live in the area, so not many people will be directly affected.
- Ecuador is the most biodiverse place on the planet- may be affected e.g. 655 species of tree at risk.
- Two main rivers may become polluted - The Cononaco and Napo.
- Oil Spill in 1996 by Chevron- they were sued $1 billion.
- Indigenous 'Huaorani' people may be impacted and can contract diseases.
- Store electricity as hydrogen then convert it into electricity in a fuel cell.
- Generate electricity, water and heat, therefore no harmful emissions.
- Tanks store 300 miles worth.
- Can be powered on renewable electricity therefore have zero emissions.
- Takes only 2-3 minutes to refuel.
- 95% of hydrogen in 2014 was made from methane, so it actualy reduces greenhouse gases.
- Only 11 refueling stations in the UK.
- Hydrogen is expensive, costs around $13.50 per kg, which is about 62 miles.
- The price of the cars is expensive, can be leased for $500 a month or purchased for around $60,000- double the price of an average car.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
- Debate began in 1977.
- Should we drill in the Arctic for oil?
- ANWR covers 19,000,000 acres of the North Alaskan coast.
- Lower oil prices, leading to an economic boom.
- Lessen the UKs dependence on foreign oil and makes us more energy secure.
- Money spent on oil from the Middle East, Russia and Venezuala may be strengthening communists and terrorists.
- Would help the economy in Alaska, as it would create thousands of jobs.
- Doesn't help us move towards renewable energy resources.
- Could disturb habitats and ecosystems, reducing biodiversity.
- May take years for a significant amount of oil to be extracted.
- Local residents and environmentalists Vs Government.
Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP)
- Aims to reduce Europes reliance on Russias gas supply.
- Natural Gas will be transported by an 1805km long pipeline underground.
- Funded by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
- Construction will last 4 years, target is to complete by 2018.
- Natural Gas comes from Georgia/Turkey and enters the TAP pipeline.
- Decreases reliance on Russian gas.
- Increases importance of Turkey and Azerbaijan as EU energy partners.
- Not reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
- Could increase tensions with Russia.
- Starts in a politically tense area - Turkey has had problems with terrorism.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Technology captures up to 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels in industry.
- Stores the Carbon Dioxide underground in depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers.
- Scotland has 50% of the offshore storage capacity in Europe.
- Can work within the existing system- everything can operate as usual.
- Reduces amount of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere.
- Carbon Dioxide is stored underground and this may have unforeseen circumstances.
- Expensive and money could be spent on renewable technologies that we know work.
- Could be seen as a distraction, prolonging the switch to renewable energy sources.
Carrot and Stick
An approach which encourages initiatives for becoming greener (Carrot) such as investment opportunities or by offering a punishment (Stick) such as fines.
- An international treaty amongst industrialised nations that sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions, if a country does not meet limits it is fined.
- USA has not signed up- key figure.
- Has led to the development of the 'carbon-trading' market - countries arent reducing emissions at all.
- Car Tax- depends on the emissions of the car, more emissions higher tax. Aims to discourage the purchase of high emission cars.
- Congestion Charge- a charge incurred to drive into an area, to reduce traffic.
- Smart Meters- allows people to be aware of household energy consumption.
- Located on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasion plate meets the North American plate in the North Atlantic Ocean.
- Generates 25% of Icelands electricity.
- Used in 9/10 households.
- Water is pumped underground and heated, the steam created turns a turbine which generates electricity.
- Saves 80% more than fossil fuels.
- Minmal pollution.
- Has huge potential- 2TW worldwide.
- Can displace habitats and put species at risk such as the Icelandic Lichen.
- Potential to trigger earthquakes.
- Location specific- has to be on a tectonic plate boundary.
- Environmentalists and Local People Vs TNCs (e.g. Magma Energy)
Biofuels in Brazil
- Tradition of sugar cane farming has led to the production of bioethanol.
- Investment in Brazil biofuels rose in 1973 due to the fuel crisis.
- Production increased from 0.6bnl in 1975 to 11bnl in 1990.
- 47% of Brazils energy is renewable.
- Brazil is the 2nd largest producer of biofuel (20bnl).
- Created 1 million jobs.
- Useful waste products- Vinasse is a good fertiliser.
- Reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
- Brazil is energy secure.
- Eutrophication of Vinasse - can be corrosive.
- Could lead to food insecurity as land is used to grow crops for fuel, or increase in food prices, which will affect the urban poor.
Wind Power in North Sea
- Dogger Bank is the main site, located 102 miles off the North Coast of England.
- Will power 2 million British homes.
- Consists of 200 turbines.
- Create 4750 jobs.
- Will generate £1.2 billion in its lifetime.
- 98% of Norwegian birds had plastic particles in their stomachs.
- Conflicts over water territory between the UK and Denmark.
- NIMBY issues.
Fracking in the USA
- Extracted by drilling into rock then pump in at very high-pressure vast quantities of water mixed with sand and chemicals. This opens up tiny fissures in the rock, through which the trapped gas can then escape.
- In 2000 shale gas provided only 1% of U.S. gas production, by 2010 it was over 20%.
- Helps to keep the OPEC countries from creating a monopoly on fuel prices.
- Reduces reliance on other countries (Russia, Iraq and Qatar).
- Shale gas is 17% cheaper than the cheapest renewable fuel.
- Contamination of drinking water resources with chemicals.
- Not reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Increased seismic activity.
- Noise pollution - trucks and lorrys, drilling, etc.
- 18 million litres of water needed to drill just one well.