The Energy-Producing Territory

Unit 1 Chapter 1

Energy Sources

Natural Resources and Energy Sources

Natural resources are all the resources produced by nature (oil, forests, fauna, metals, solar radiation, etc). Some are used as energy sources. They are divided into three major categories:
Non-Renewable resources: found in limited amounts in nature. They include oil, natural gas, coal and uranium. Coal was the worlds primary energy source until the late 1960s, when oil took over. Natural gas use will increase in the coming years. Renewable resources do not run out if they are managed in a sustainable manner. River currents and tidal power serve mainly to produce electricity. Biomass is burned directly to produce heat or is used as fuel to generate electricity. Inexhaustible resources are sometimes considered renewable resources because they will always be available. They include solar radiation, wind and geothermic power.

Non-Renewable Resources

Non-Renewable Resources: Oil

Oil is first extracted from below the surface of the Earth or ocean floors by derricks. It is transported by oil pipeline or boat refineries. Oil pipelines can be buried in the ground or installed above ground with supports. Refineries turn oil into petroleum products that serve as energy sources (ex. Gas, diesel fuel, heavy oil fuel, propane, etc) They also provide raw materials in certain industries, such as petrochemistry. Refineries do not all produce the same products. Petroleum products are generally transported by railway tank cars or tank trucks to service stations and factories that use them for rough materials. Others are transported by oil pipeline or boat to thermal power plants.

Non-Renewable Resources: Natural Gas

Like oil, natural gas is extracted from below the surface of the Earth or ocean floors through drilling. It is mainly transported by gas pipeline, but it is also possible to ship it by boat. For this to be possible, it is first transformed into a liquid. Natural gas is processed before it is distributed to consumers as refined products. It also serves as a fuel for thermal power plants, heating and cooking, and certain automobiles.

Non-Renewable Resources: Coal

Coal is mined in open pits or underground.

Once coal is extracted from the subsurface, it is processed to remove any impurities.
Trucks, trains and boat are used to transport the coal. Coal is mostly used as a fuel for thermal power plants, it is also used as a raw material to make cast iron and steel.

Non-Renewable Resources: Nuclear Energy

Canada is the leading uranium-producing country.

Uranium is a radioactive metal that is extracted from mines.

Very little uranium is needed to produce large amounts of electricity in a nuclear power plant. Such power plants generally cost very little to operate and produce very few pollutants. However, they require major financial investments. They are very controversial because they produce radioactive waste that is harmful to health if not treated appropriately. For these reasons, the public is cold towards the idea of using nuclear power.

Renewable Resources

Renewable Resources Hydroelectric Power

River water running through a turbine makes it possible to produce electricity. In order to obtain enough force to make a turbine turn, the rivers discharge and hydraulic head must be high enough. The higher they are, the better the rivers hydroelectric potential. Hydroelectricity is often produced in power plants located far away from the places where it is consumed. A complex network of transmission lines must be developed to make its way to the cities. Although not visually appealing, it is a reliable, clean source of energy that emits very few greenhouse gases

Storage Power plants vs. Run of the River plants

Storage power plants generally produce a large amount of electricity. Hydroelectricity developments that use dams and reservoirs have a major impact on the territory. They require a vast area of territory to be flooded and destroy part of its biodiversity decreasing the number of fish species. A run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant is fuelled by the discharge and current of a watercourse. This type of power plant generally produces less electricity than storage power plants. Their impact on the environment is also lower, because there is no need to flood a territory to build this type of power plant.

Renewable Resources Tidal Power

The perpetual movement of waves and tides can generate a huge amount of energy called tidal energy. Using a dam, it is possible to recover this energy by holding back ocean water when the tide comes in. Then, when the tide ebbs, the water is released into hydroelectric turbines. There are few tidal plants in the world because tides have to be very high in order to produce enough energy. This system generates very few greenhouse gases but construction of these dams requires flooding resulting in disturbing the ecosystem.

Renewable Resources Biomass

Burning wood for heating and cooking is the main energy source for 2.4 million people living in developing countries. In industrialized countries, it is mainly used as a backup energy source. Unless using an advanced slow combustion woodstove, the smoke that comes from regular stoves pollutes the environment and is dangerous to the peoples health. Electricity can also be produced in thermal power plants through burning biomass from forest, urban and agri-food waste.

Burning waste for fuel saves money because it prevents waste from being buried and prevents soil and ground water from being contaminated

Inexhaustible Resources

Inexhaustible Resources Solar Energy

Solar energy comes from the conversion of solar rays that reach the earth. The amount of solar energy available in a day depends on the suns position in the sky and how cloudy it is. Solar panels convert solar energy into electricity.

As it is not always sunny it is difficult to store the electricity produced, a backup energy source is needed to ensure a constant supply of energy.
Solar energy is non-polluting and can be used directly for heating and lighting or indirectly when it is converted into electricity. This is an expensive way of producing energy although the source of energy is free!!

Inexhaustible Resources Wind Energy

The force of the wind produces energy by making wind turbines blades turn. In order to be considered worthwhile for generating wind-powered electricity, winds must be strong, regular and constant. If there is no wind, the wind turbines stop producing electricity.

Wind turbines can be set up either on land or at sea.

The electricity produced by wind turbines cannot be stored. In developing countries, wind turbines are used to pump water for people or livestock as well as irrigation for crops. In industrial countries, they are mainly used for electricity Turbines can give electricity to remote areas

Inexhaustible Resources Geothermal Energy

The heat that is found between the Earths surface and a depth of 10 000 metres holds 50 000 times more energy than all of the worlds oil and natural gas resources. This is the power of Geothermal energy. This type of energy produces few greenhouse gases. The regions that have the greatest geothermal potential are located in areas with active volcanos, especially near the pacific ring. You do not have to be near a volcano to use geothermy. A technique exists that enables the ground heat located near the surface to be used directly to heat buildings. (Westwood Junior uses Geothermal energy to heat the school)

Conclusion
Thanks to the development of new, more reliable and less costly technologies, it is expected that the cost of producing electricity from renewable and inexhaustible resources will decrease in the coming years. On the other hand, the cost of hydroelectricity is not likely to go down, because it is an energy source whose technology is already highly advanced. The development of inexhaustible, renewable resources must increase in order to ensure sustainable development.

The Energy-Producing Territory

Unit 1 Chapter 2

Our World and Its Issues

A Global Context
In this chapter, you will see that energy resources are unequally distributed throughout the Earth, which gives rise to a great deal of trade among countries. Population growth and an expanding global economy have resulted in ever-rising consumption of different forms of energy.

World Energy Consumption

Energy consumption per capita varies according to the economic level of development and technological developments

Increasing Energy Consumption

The biggest growth in the number of automobiles is occurring in developing countries such as China and India. Over 98% of motor vehicles in the world are fueled by gasoline. The transportation sector alone consumes nearly 60% of the worlds available oil

The main factors explaining the significant increase are rapid economic growth and industrial development, sharp growth in the number of automobiles, urbanization and the replacement of traditional fuels

Energy Production

Energy Production
Energy resources are unequally distributed over the surface of the Earth. This fact partially explains why some countries produce more energy than others Energy production also varies according to the energy needs of a country. Therefore, developing countries usually produce less energy than industrialized countries, because their per capita energy consumption is lower. Some countries consume all the energy they produce, whereas others export part of it.

Oil Producing Countries

The Main Oil-Producing Countries

The OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) countries possess 78% of the worlds oil reserves and produce 40% of the oil used around the globe In addition to the OPEC countries, several multinationals manage the exploitation of oil in the world. OPEC members are Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Iran and Mexico

Wind Producing Countries

The Main Wind Energy-Producing Countries

Wind energy is a source of electricity that has experienced the strongest growth worldwide. It has increased by 32% in the past five years and continues to grow. The main countries that produce wind energy are Germany, Spain, United States, Denmark and India

Natural Gas Producing Countries

The Main Natural Gas Producing Countries

The main natural gas producing countries are Russia, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Algeria

Coal-Producing Countries

The Main Coal-Producing Countries

By 2030, China, as well as the countries of South Asia, South Africa and North America will see the greatest increases in their coal production The leading countries in coal production are China, United States, India, Australia and South Africa

Hydroelectricity-Producing Countries

The Main Hydroelectricity-Producing Countries

In 2000, one third of the worlds countries met over 50% of their energy need by using hydroelectricity. Approximately 70% of hydroelectric energy production potential was exploited in industrialized countries The leading countries in hydro production are Canada, Brazil, United States, China and Russia

From Production Zones to Consumption Zones

From Production Zones to Consumption Zones

Not all countries are autonomous in terms of energy.

Inequalities in the global distribution of energy resources and in standards of living have put some countries at a high level of energy dependence than others.
A country can even have different dependence levels for each of the energy sources it uses. Ex. The U.S. consumes more energy than it produces. Although they are autonomous with coal production, they must import oil and natural gas.

Eastern North Americas Power Grid

Eastern North Americas Power Grid

The transmission of electricity over long distances is costly and complex. For this reason, producing countries only export to their close neighbors. Quebec exports 19.7 billion kWh, to other provinces and to the U.S. whereas Quebec imported 5.3 billion kWh in electricity The accumulation of water in reservoirs makes it possible to manage production of hydroelectricity on the basis of demand. Thermal power plans on the other hand generate the same amount of electricity 365 days a year, day and night. When demand is low, electricity produced is wasted because it cannot be stored.

Major Oil Flows

Major Oil Flows

In a time of globalization, the international oil trade is very important.

There are two reasons for this situation:

The producing regions do not necessarily correspond to the consuming regions Oil is easily transported over long distances

Every year, nearly 4000 oil tankers transport about 1.9 billion tonnes of oil over the ocean which represents 62% of world production. The rest o the oil is transported over land using oil pipelines.

Major Natural Gas and Coal Flows

Major Natural Gas and Coal Flows

Today, over 75% of world natural gas flows pass through gas pipelines, although natural gas can also be transported by ship (must be in liquid form). Only 18% of coal consumed in the world is transported by ship over long distances because this means of transportation is very costly. This is why coal is usually transported by truck or train.

Reducing Energy Dependence in China

Reducing Energy Dependence in China

Situation: Chinas energy needs have skyrocketed, their oil production has not been able to keep up with the demand. China uses coal-fired thermal power plants to provide 80% of their electricity. Possible solution: China has plans to build coal liquefaction plants that will replace gasoline for automobiles. This fuel will produce fewer polluting emissions than the traditional oil based fuels

Energy Consumption and the Global Environment

The Greenhouse Effect

Humans have accelerated the natural heating of the planet by discharging gases that artificially increase the greenhouse effect. According to scientists predictions, warming should accelerate from 1C to 4.5C by the end of the 21st century. Temperature increases will vary according to the location on the Earth.