4
Scramble for energy
4.1
What are the major types of energy resources?
4 Scramble for energy
A What are the major types of energy resources?
1
Complete the following flow chart about the major types of energy resources.
Energy resources
Renewable
energy resources
(can be used over and over again)
Non-renewable
energy
resources (limited in amount and can only
be used once)
Examples include:
•S
olar
•W
ind
Examples include:
power
•
Coal
•
Oil
•
Natural
•G
power
ydroelectric
power
eothermal
power
•T
idal
power
•W
ave
power
•B
iofuel
•H
Fossil
fuels
gas
•
Uranium
and fuel wood
B Where are fossil fuels?
2
Refer to Figures 4 and 5 on p. 6 of your textbook. Describe the distribution of energy
resources in the world.
a
Coal is more (evenly / unevenly) distributed. Most reserves are found in these four
countries:
Russia, China, Australia and the USA
Middle
b
Oil is (evenly / unevenly) distributed.
largest reserves.
c
Natural gas is (evenly / unevenly) distributed.
largest reserves.
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
East
Russia
(a region) has the
and Central Asia have the
1
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Why is there a problem with energy resources?
4.2
A Why do we have energy resource problem?
1
We can view this problem in two aspects: How long the energy reserves can last, and the
consumption and production patterns of the reserves.
1
How long the energy reserves can last
a
The following graph shows that we are consuming ( increasing / decreasing ) amount of
fossil
fuels
energy resources, especially
. Among them, we rely most
heavily on ( coal / oil / natural gas ).
Conclusion:
The
world
demand for energy
keeps increasing
b
Energy
resource
Years that the proven reserve can last
at the present rate of consumption
Coal
Up to 150 years
Oil
Up to less than 50 years
Natural gas
Up to less than 50 years
but the reserves
are getting less
and less. There
will be no more
fossil fuels one
day.
i
The above table shows that ( coal / oil / natural gas ) will run out very soon.
ii
Is it easy to get oil from new reserves?
No, it is not.
2
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
2
Consumption and production patterns of the reserves
a
Study Figures 4a-c on p. 12 and Figures 5a-c on p. 13 of your textbook. Fill in the table
below.
Energy
Top three
resources consuming
countries
Coal
China
USA
Oil
Natural
gas
Top three
producing
countries
China
=
USA
India
India
USA
Saudi Arabia
China
Russia
=
Japan
USA
USA
USA
Russia
Iran
=
Russia
Canada
Remarks
• The top three energy-consuming
countries ( match / do not match ) with
the top three energy-producing
countries
•
China
is both the largest
consumer and producer of coal, its
consumption (> / < ) its production
• The top three energy-consuming
countries ( match / do not match ) with
the top three energy-producing
countries
•
USA
is both a major
consumer and producer of oil, its
consumption (> / < ) its production
• The top three energy-consuming
countries ( match / do not match ) with
the top three energy-producing
countries
•
USA
is both the largest
consumer and producer of natural gas,
its consumption (> / < ) its production
Conclusion:
1. There is a mismatch in energy-producing and energy-consuming countries.
2. Some energy-producers produce far less than they need, such as the USA and China.
How to solve the problem then?
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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b
From the above table, we can see that:
Why is there a rising demand of fossil fuels?
On the consumption side:
•
1
The major energy-consuming countries are
Industrial
countries such as the USA,
Japan, etc.
[well-developed countries]
2
Newly-industrialized
countries, such as China
and India
[less-developed countries]
These countries have ( high / low ) levels of
industrial development and ( high / low ) living
standards. They need ( a lot of / little ) energy for
various activities
These countries have set up a lot of
factories
for industrial production.
They have a ( large / small ) population. Their
living standards are also ( rising / falling )
•
Although some of the above energy-consuming countries also produce energy
resources, their production is (enough / not enough) for their own use;
•
**Industrial countries rely heavily on imports.**
On the production side:
•
The major producer of oil is a
less
developed country.
Problems arise:
Regional or international conflict may threaten the oil supply. [war, protest, or political
unrest]
E.g. Oil crisis in 1973 and The Gulf War in 1990 (Textbook p.14)
c
What is the result of a shortage of oil supply?
economy
A shortage of oil supply will disrupt the
of the industrial countries
and the whole world. This is because when there is not enough oil supply, the price of oil
rise
transport
will
. This will lead to a rise in
costs and
production
costs. As a result, the economic growth of the industrial countries and
slowed
down
the whole world will be
.
4
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
4.3
What are other problems with current energy
resources?
A What environmental problems do fossil fuels cause?
1
1
Air pollution
Burning fossil fuels, e.g. burning petrol in cars, gives out air pollutants such as
dioxide
nitrogen
oxides
and
.
sulphur
They result in:
a
air
b
acid
pollution: causing respiratory problems, poor lung function and coughing;
rain
: polluting land and water. Soil and water become too acidic
for plants and animals.
2
Global warming
2
carbon
dioxide
Burning fossil fuels gives out large quantities of
greenhouse
kind of
gas which traps heat and keeps the earth warm.
3
rise
An increase in these gases results in a
global
(see graph below). It is called
. It is a
in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere
warming
.
Impacts of global warming:
1. Melting of icebergs.
2. Rise in sea level
3. Damage to ecosystems
4. Extreme weather.
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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3
Negative impact on land and water
opencast
Extracting underground fossil fuels destroys the land, e.g.
mining of coal
vegetation
topsoil
destroys
and
. The barren land becomes waste land.
4
Also, the habitats of wildlife may be
destroyed and fewer animals can
survive.
collapse
Extracting coal from underground mines may lead to the
of land.
acidic
poisonous/toxic
Coal cinder is
. During coal mining, coal ash may be washed into
rivers and seas. This will pollute the water and harm the life there.
5
6
heat
Burning fossil fuels releases
rivers and seas, it will upset the water
7
4
to the water. When the water is discharged into
ecosystem
.
Man-made hazards
8
Extracting oil, natural gas and coal may cause hazards to the environment.
9
Accidents may occur when mining oil or natural gas from under the sea. Serious oil
spill
pollutes water and coastlines, and threatens marine life.
Leakage of oil
6
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
B Why is the use of fuel wood in less developed countries a threat to
people and the environment?
10
a
What is fuel wood?
It is branches of
b
trees
gathered for heating and cooking.
Fuel wood is said to be a good source of energy. Why?
cheap
renewable
It is because it is
(low cost) to use; it is
(it can
grow by itself) and it gives out fewer greenhouse gases than simply leave it to rot.
11
Fuel wood may cause problems to people and the environment in the following ways:
air
pollutants
a
Burning fuel wood will release
people’s health.
b
Increasing use of fuel wood will damage the environment. The following flow chart
shows the effect.
Population increases
Demand for fuel
increases
wood
, which threaten
( More / Fewer ) trees are
cut
Wood is being used
quicker than it can be
replaced by growth
esertification
D
results
erosion
Soil
will become serious
Environment will no
longer be suitable for life
Whole ecosystem
will be affected
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
Land will become
barren
(with
little, or no plants)
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4.4
Are there alternatives?
A What are the alternatives for fossil fuels?
1
In view of the problems that arise from fossil fuels, people are more willing to explore new
alternatives.
From the graph below, we can see that the investment in renewable energy is ( rising /
falling ).
2
8
There are a number of alternatives for fossil fuels:
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
Solar power
•
Power from the sun is used as energy by turning light energy or heat energy into
electricity
• The following construction is used to tap solar energy:
Mechanism
hot
water
 Solar
water in homes and offices)
 Solar

PV panels
Advantages ( the correct one
and describe/ fill in the blanks)
(heat is collected to heat
(converting light energy into electricity)
Mirrors
and a tracking system (concentrating solar energy to heat up the
fluid and then use it to generate electricity)


Limitations ( the correct one and
describe/ fill in the blanks)
system
Renewable

Clean


Produce no
gases
pollutants
and no
greenhouse
Cheap
Safe

Others

High construction cost

Unstable electricity
generation

Adverse impact on the
environment

It can be tapped where there is sunshine
•
Solar energy is only available in daytime
•
Its production varies with the weather
Animals will lose their homes
Others
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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Wind power
•
Power from wind (kinetic energy) is turned into electricity
• Construct
(offshore)
wind
turbine
 The generator inside the wind turbine
turns the kinetic energy into electric energy
Mechanism
 Wind currents move the
blades of the wind turbine
on land (onshore) or over the sea

Wind
Blade

Limitations ( the correct one and
describe/ fill in the blanks)
Advantages ( the correct one
and describe/ fill in the blanks)
Generator
10
Renewable

Clean

Produce no pollutants and no greenhouse gases
Cheap

Cost of electricity is cheap
High construction
cost

Particularly offshore ones
Unstable electricity
generation

Stable wind speed over a long period of time is
necessary
Adverse impact on
the environment

• Causing
visual
pollution
• Causing
noise
pollution
Safe
Others
• Birds and bats may be killed by the blades
Others
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
Hydroelectric power
•
Power from falling water (kinetic energy) is turned into electricity
•
Construct a
gradient
dam
across a river where there is a marked change in
Limitations ( the correct one and
describe/ fill in the blanks)
Advantages ( the correct one
and describe/ fill in the blanks)
Mechanism
Water flows through large
water pipes from the reservoir
behind the dam to the bottom
of the dam
Water pushes the turbine
and drives the generators.
This generates electricity
Renewable

Clean

Cheap

Safe

operation
Low
cost
Others
High construction
cost

Unstable electricity
generation

Adverse impact on
the environment

Others

© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
Drought
may affect electricity generation
•
Large area is flooded. Homes of animals are lost
•
natural
The dams will change the
river
environment. Fish and other life in rivers will be
disturbed
If the dam
disaster
collapses
, it could cause a serious
11
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Biofuel
Limitations ( the correct one and
describe/ fill in the blanks)
Advantages ( the correct one
and describe/ fill in the blanks)
Mechanism
Sugar or oil from crops is turned into energy
Types:
Ethanol
1
is produced from crops such as corn and sugar cane
Biodiesel
2
is produced from plant oil such as soybean oil and palm oil,
animal
oil
waste cooking oil,
fats and fish
12
Renewable

Clean

Produce fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases
Cheap

Production cost is cheap

Crops can be grown locally and reduces the need of
importing fossil fuels
Adverse impact on
the environment

Land is converted to grow crops for biofuel. This
destruction
contributes to the
of natural habitats
Others

•
Safe
Others
High construction
cost
Unstable electricity
generation
•
Using crops for fuel affects
food
and causes a rise in
food
supply
prices
The energy used to produce biofuel may be as much as
the final product itself
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
Nuclear power
uranium
atoms
• Splitting
produces energy, which is used to heat
water
the
in the power plant
steam
• Water turns into
to drive the generators. This generates electricity
Mechanism
Contain nuclear reactors
Cooling water becomes
hot and is discharged
into the sea
Limitations ( the correct one and describe/ fill in
the blanks)
Advantages ( the correct one
and describe/ fill in the blanks)
Renewable
Clean

Produce no pollutants and greenhouse gases
Cheap

The cost of the power is competitive to fossil fuels

• There is a large global
Safe
Others
reserve
of uranium
efficient
• It is
: A small amount of uranium
can produce much power
High construction
cost

Unstable electricity
generation
Adverse impact on
the environment

radioactive
1
Uranium is
:
•
Radiation is harmful to plants, animals and people
•
Wind spreads radioactive elements. Nuclear accidents
are therefore disastrous to the environment
•
The waste from nuclear plants is also radioactive.
2
Hot water from the power plant is discharged into
thermal
nearby rivers or seas. This causes
pollution
Others
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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4.5
How can future energy demands be met in a more
sustainable way?
A What are the sustainable solutions for energy problems?
1
1
Reducing the demand for energy
Using energy more efficiently helps reduce the demand for energy.
Use more energy-efficient
appliances
Adopt more energy-efficient systems, e.g.
mass
transit
systems
Adopt new building designs and techniques
2
2
14
Using renewable energy
Developing renewable energy resources can help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. This is
done through the following ways:
Explore
a
and invest in new technology: For example, in tapping solar energy,
scientists have invented tube-shape PV panels to increase the absorption of sunlight.
b
Governments adopt policies to encourage the use of new technologies. The following are
three case studies on the UK, China and Brazil.
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
Case study: Wind power development in the UK
Present situation
In 2007 wind power contributed 2.2% of the total electricity supply in the UK
Government
policy
Aim at building more onshore and offshore wind farms, and by 2020, wind
power will account for 30% of its electricity supply
Potential
The UK is
windiest
the
country in Europe. It has
great potential in wind
power production
Reasons for rapid
development in
the UK
Benefits of
developing wind
power in the UK
The British government is committed to cut down
gas
emissions
•
The rapid rise in
competitive
oil
•
Improvement in
wind turbines
technology
•
Wind power helps cut down emissions of greenhouse gases such as
carbon
dioxide
and air pollutants such as
prices has made wind power more
has enhanced the efficiency of
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
•
Wind power is renewable and can help reduce the reliance on
fossil
fuels
. It helps sustain the future energy supply
of the country
•
Developing wind power:
jobs
– creates
–
–
Costs of
developing wind
power in the UK
greenhouse
•
•
creates business
tax
generates
for local people;
opportunities
for different sectors; and
revenue for the government
mature
The offshore wind industry is not yet
technology. A lot of investment is needed for
development
•
in terms of
research
and
Large amounts of capital have to be invested in offshore wind
infrastructure
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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4 Scramble for energy
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Case study: HEP development in China
Present situation
China is now the largest HEP producer in the world. In 2008 HEP accounted
for 17% of the electricity production in China
Government
policy
The central government is going to quicken the HEP development in order to
meet the target of 15% share of primary consumption of non-fossil fuels in
2020
Potential
rivers
China has many
with marked gradient change. This provides
great potential for developing HEP. The largest HEP dam is at the
Sanxia/Three Gorges
on the Chang Jiang
Reasons for rapid
development in
China
•
•
•
•
economic
growth
Fast
and the improvement in
living standards have led to a greater demand for energy resources
oil
Supply of energy, particularly
, is not enough for local use
coal
China has relied heavily on
for power generation.
However, burning this energy resource causes environmental problems.
There is a need to develop cleaner fuels
technology
Improvements in
allow electricity to be
transmitted over long distance
Benefits of
developing HEP
in China
•
•
•
•
•
16
HEP is the most reliable form of renewable resources.
ollution
It does not cause any p
low
The operating cost is relatively
carbon
dioxide
It can cut down much
emissions
each year
The spectacular views of large dams such as the Three Gorges Dam,
tourism
provide great potential for developing
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
Costs of
developing HEP
in China
Some areas behind the dam are
flooded
:
•
People have to leave their
homes;
•
Animals lose their
place/habitat
living
• Some fish species are
endangered
Downstream area may suffer from dam building:
• People may not have enough
farm with;
water
to use and to
fertility
• Soil
of
farmland downstream is
lowered because sediments
are trapped by the dam in the
upstream area
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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Case study: Biofuel development in Brazil
Present situation
•
ethanol
Brazil is now the second largest
producer in the world.
It has a long history of producing this fuel from sugar cane.
•
Due to the rising global demand for biofuel, Brazil also produces
biodiesel
from soybean oil.
Government
policy
The Brazilian government will continue to develop the ethanol market, both
local and international, and at the same time, include some family farmers in
biodiesel production
Potential
sugar
The raw materials for biofuel production (
soybean
) can be grown cheaply in tropical areas
cane
and
Brazil is located in the
tropical
area.
Producing biofuel there is
cheap.
Reasons for rapid
development in
Brazil
•
To satisfy
local
•
To satisfy
overseas
demand
demand as more countries are interested
in cleaner fuels
Benefits of
developing
biofuel in Brazil
•
Brazil supplies biofuel for local use. This helps reduce its reliance on
imported
oil
•
By exporting biofuel, Brazil can earn
•
As the raw materials for biofuel can be grown at a low cost in Brazil, the
foreign
currencies
biofuel produced is cheap. This makes Brazilian biofuel very
competitive
18
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
Costs of
developing
biofuel in Brazil
•
The tropical rainforest in Brazil has to be cleared to grow soybean.
This has two negative effects:
 Reduces the
biodiversity
of the rainforest
 ( Reduces / Increases ) the
absorption of carbon dioxide
•
Sugar cane is the raw material for sugar. Using sugar cane to produce
supply
biofuel affects the
of sugar and causes the price of
rise
sugar to
Produce sugar?
Produce
biofuel?
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
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B
What are the possible solutions for energy problems in the world?
Global solutions
1
3
International cooperation
interconnect
Different countries may
electricity
grid. This ensures reliable electricity supply.
4
MDCs may transfer appropriate
technology
relating to using cleaner coal, renewable energy and raising
energy efficiency to LDCs.
2
Setting new emissions
standards
5
Strict emissions standards
encourage car makers to
design cars which are more
efficient
fuel
environmentally
and
friendly.
6
Emission standard for particulate matter in vehicles
Passenger cars
(petrol) (g/km)
Lorries and buses
(g/kWh) (standard
(standard defined by
vehicle driving distance)
defined by engine
energy output)
Euro I
--
0.36-0.612
Euro III
--
0.15-0.25
Euro V
0.005
0.02
Euro VI
(2014)
0.005
0.01
Examples of these new car designs include:
hybrid

cars which use both petrol and electricity; and

fuel
cell
electric
oxygen from the air.
7
20
vehicles which use hydrogen and

The above mentioned cars are both
clean
and emit few air pollutants.
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
National solutions
1
8
Increasing the supply of energy resources
This is achieved by different means:
renewable
Develop
energy resources
Secure oil supply from
overseas
, for
example the Middle East,
Russia, Africa and Brazil
2
9
Build more
nuclear
plants
Explore and extract
offshore
oil and natural gas
Slowing down the increasing demand for energy resources
technologies
With the use of more advanced
used can generate a higher economic return.
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
, the same amount of energy
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Local solutions
1
Using cleaner fuels
10
Hong Kong has used the electricity generated
nuclear
plant
from the
in Daya Bay.
11
Much energy is used in the transport sector.
Three major measures are used to deal with the
air pollutants emitted from vehicles:
a
b
c
petrol and diesel sold in Hong Kong has to
Euro V
comply with the
standard
petrol
very high
tax helps
lower the demand for petrol
hybrid
encourage the use of
electric
and
cars
cars
Can Hong Kong go further in using cleaner fuel?
Yes, Hong Kong may try to develop more renewable energy such as
wind
and
power.
2
12
Promoting energy conservation and efficiency
Energy conservation is encouraged in:
mass
a
transport systems: using
b
c
d
22
solar
transit
system;
buildings: based on the standards set and laws passed by the government;
energy
efficiency
appliances and equipment: adopting
labelling
scheme;
public
education: this raises
efficiency and conservation
awareness
about energy
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
4 Scramble for energy
Can Hong Kong go further in energy saving?
Yes, Hong Kong may save energy used in buildings through the use of natural
ventilation
lighting
and
.
Individuals
13
A simple life will help cut down the consumption of energy. This can be done by:
© Oxford University Press (China) Ltd 2012
23