What is does good energy security refer to?
The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.
Difference between short term and long term energy security?
Short term - Ability to react promptly to sudden changes in the balance between energy demand and supply
Long term - Energy sources that are able to match the economic environmental needs of the present and future.
Issue with a lack of energy security?
Reliant on imports which makes you very vulnerable to economic fluctuations.
What are the 4 factors affecting energy security?
Availability
Accessibility
Affordability
Reliability.
Why is energy security important for the running of a country?
Vital for the functioning of the economy:
- Transport
- Domestic electricity - lighting and appliances
- Manufacturing
- Construction
How can energy consumption be measured?
Usually measured per capita or per unit of GDP in one of the following ways:
Equivalent Kg of oil per year
Gigajoules per year
What does energy intensity measure?
Typical trend between energy intensity and GDP
Measures how efficiently a country uses its energy in units of energy used per unit of GDP.
As economic development increases energy intensity tends to decrease
Difference between primary and secondary energy sources.
Primary energy sources are consumed in their raw form eg. fossil fuels, HEP, nuclear…
They can be used to create secondary energy sources - electricity.
Factors affecting energy consumption/ mix
Physical availability
Cost
Technology
Political considerations
Level of economic development
Environmental priorities
Energy mix/ consumption - UK vs Norway
Factor - Physical availability?
UK
Up to 1970 very dependent on domestic coal.
