To start… Which is the most polluting fossil fuel and why? What is coal gasification? Who has the most coal? Who uses the most coal?

Natural Gas

Why is natural gas described as the world’s favourite fossil fuel?

Production Who produces the most gas? How does this differ from coal and oil? The Middle East produces much more oil than USA and Russia. China produces the largest amount of coal. Russia produces very little. However Russia and USA have a significant level of production in all fossil fuels.

Where is the natural gas? Does this match up with the production levels? Why? How will this change?

Factors effecting natural gas supply Physical – Many gas resources such as those in Siberia and North Africa are far from consuming centres. Needs to be close to consumption to be viable. Until 20th Century, development of gas resources hindered by problems of transport and storage. Moreover, construction and management of international pipelines in remote or environmentally sensitive areas presents major logistical problems. Economic – transport requires large investment in pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and storage facilities. Political – Pipelines are vulnerable to war and terrorism in regions of political instability in the Middle East.

Nuclear Power: A global renaissance?

Watch the following movie about the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. This will give you some background information to explain why there is such fierce disagreements about the future of nuclear power.

Nuclear Power - For Generating electricity by nuclear reactors does not produce carbon dioxide. Britain's existing nuclear power plants reduce the nation's carbon emissions by between 7 and 14 per cent. Building new nuclear power stations will ensure the nation retains control over its own sources of energy. Security of supply is essential in an unstable world where oil and gas comes mainly from regions that could hold Britain to ransom by threatening to disrupt supplies. Nuclear power is a mature technology and has proven reliability. It has been developed over 50 years and the latest reactors are reliable, clean and efficient. Generating electricity by nuclear power is a 24/7 operation and is not subject to the vagaries of wind, sun or tides. As a founder member of the nuclear club, Britain has the expertise to operate the new nuclear-fission reactors.

Nuclear Power – Against Nuclear power produces radioactive waste that remains dangerous for tens of thousands of years. The Government still does not know what to do with the waste that has accumulated from more than 50 years of nuclear power. Costs of disposal are estimated at about £56bn. The technology of generating electricity from nuclear fission can also be used to produce nuclear weapons. Nuclear power stations are a target for terrorist attack. Terrorists are already believed to have targeted nuclear power plants, including one in Australia. The legacy of Chernobyl proves nuclear power is not without enormous risk. Although the risk may be small, the consequences of a catastrophic accident are immense. Nuclear power is not carbon free. Fossil fuels are needed to run the nuclear cycle, from mining the uranium ore and shipping it to Britain, to disposing of the huge volumes of radioactive waste.

Fast-breeder Reactor? Reactors are very efficient at manufacturing plutonium fuel from their original uranium fuel load. This greatly increases energy production but it could prove disastrous if there was an accident or if the plutonium was to get into the wrong hands as it is a key ingredient for nuclear weapons.

Renewable Sources of Energy

Hydroelectric Power – the largest renewable The figures show consumption rather than the production of HEP power. Trade in HEP between countries in extremely limited. The big 4 HEP nations: China, Canada, Brazil and USA account for 46% of global total. The best locations for HEP power development have already been exploited, therefore scope for more large scale development is limited.

HEP for and against For Creates water reserves as well as energy supplies. Clean form of energy. Renewable – source will not run out. Does not emit greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide. Against Negative impact on the environment. Obstructs rivers causing problems for aquatic life. Deterioration of water quality. Large areas of land may be flooded. May cause the release of significant quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas, if large forests are submerges without prior clearance (rotting).

Renewable Energy In 2005, renewables accounted for 13% of world primary energy production. 80% of this came from combustible renewables (mainly wood for cooking and heating) consumed in LEDCs, and 17% from HEP. Rates of increase in the production of renewable energy have been similar to overall growth of energy production since 1970. The growth of ‘new’ renewables such as wind, tide, geothermal and solar power has, however, increased more rapidly. Wind energy, with an annual growth of 48%, has the highest increase; but high rates of growth in ‘new’ renewables are from a very low base. Altogether, wind, tide, geothermal and solar energy’s contribution to total energy production is just over half of 1%