GCSE Geography Resource management

HOW IS THE UK'S ENERGY DEMAND CHANGING?

~increased demand, decreased consumption 

~ ^ due to improved conservation and decline of heavy industry

~low energy appliances, better building insulation and more fuel efficient cars have resulted in a 60% fall in energy use by industry and 12% fall in domestic energy

HOW HAS THE UK'S ENERGY MIX CHANGED?

~The UK's energy mix has changed in the last 25 years

~By 2020 the UK aims to meet 15% energy requirement from renewable sources

~In 2015 the government decided to phase out subsidiaries for wind and solar development 

HOW AND WHY HAS THE UK'S ENERGY MIX CHANGED?

-no longer self sufficient

- ≈75% UK's known oil and natural gas reserves have been exhausted

- by 2020 ≈ 75% will be imported

-our energy security is affected as we become reliant on imported energy

-2/3 gas reserves remain

-oil reains in less accesible oil fields

- the remote marnies oil field (≈150km east of the shetlands) will start producing in 2017, but uk production is -6% every year in the past decades

- less coal is used now

- ^ 1990-2007 had a steady decline 

FOSSIL FUELS ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE:

~The UK's remaining fossil fuel reserves will provide energy for several decades

~Coal imports are cheap- over 3/4 the UK's coal now comes from abroad (mainly from Russia, Colombia and the USA)

~Existing UK power stations use fossil fuels- all coal fueled power stations to be closed by 2025

~ Shale gas deposits will be exploited in the future

WHAT IS THE FRACKING ISSUE?

What is the fracking issue? The UK has rich reserves of natural gas trapped deep underground in shale rocks. To extract the gas, high-pressure liquids (water, sand and chemicals) are introduced to fracture the shale and release the gas. This process is called fracking. Fracking has become a very controversial issue. People are concerned about:

~The possibility of earthquakes

~Pollution of underground water sources

~The high costs of extraction.