How energy secure is the UK?

The UK energy issues For the majority of people in the UK energy is delivered straight to the door, via pipes, cables and in the case of oil by tankers. Electricity is available at the flick of a switch and is generated from a range of sources: In the year 2011 the percentage of primary energy derived from major sources was as follows: Natural gas: 41% Coal: 29% Nuclear: 18% Renewables: 9% Other: 2%.

Historically a country emphasising its coal, nuclear and off-shore natural gas production, the United Kingdom is currently in transition to become a net energy importer. Dependency upon imported energy undermines UK national security and will have potentially dire consequences for the balance of trade.

What does this show? Which fuels are increasing? Decreasing? Is this good or bad for the UK?

In 1965 (when BP records begin) 98% of UK primary energy was derived from burning fossil solar fuels for transporation and power generation purposes. By 2006, the proportion of fossil fuels in the energy mix had fallen marginally to 92% - largely due to an increase in nuclear energy. In this period, the energy mix has changed significantly. In 1965, no natural gas was used. But with the discovery and development of offshore natural gas in the North Sea, the proportion of natural gas in the UK energy mix has increased steadily since 1968 largely at the expense of burning coal. In 1965, the UK population was 54,350,000 and this had grown to 60,245,000 by 2005 This equates to 3.6 tonnes oil equivalent per person per annum in 1965 and 3.8 tonnes oil equivalent per person per annum in 2005.

P 14 Oxford

Access to energy Which energy sources are used is not simply a matter of which fossil fuels or renewable forms are available in a country Other factors influence choice of energy sources Cost is critical, as people are sensitive to energy sources Nuclear power station construction ground to a standstill after the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Technology Technology is required to drill, mine, process etc, and is not available everywhere e.g. LDCs. Attitudes Public attitudes may be anti-nuclear, or NIMBYISM may block wind turbines or dams. Cost While desirable, technologies like wave and hydrogen may be too expensive due to technical challenges.

Access to renewables Most renewable energy is constrained by physical geography, and especially climate This means its availability is place specific The UK has significant renewable potential, especially wind, although it is a small country with limited land area; most HEP sites are already used. Many renewables are intermittent energy sources, so energy must be stored (very costly and technically difficult) or backed up by another source SourcePhysical limitations WindRequires wind speeds of 8-25 mph Solar PVWorks best in areas of over 6 kwh per sq. metre per day BiomassRequires large land area for feedstock HEPSuitable valleys i.e. long, deep and relatively narrow, and predictable water supply UK renewable potential

Security Energy security depends on a number of factors (see table) Countries with a diverse energy ‘mix’ are less at risk than those relying on 1 or 2 sources Renewable potential could be used to offset declining fossil fuel reserves or supply interruptions Reliance on long distance international trade in fossil fuels may be risky Demand and dependency are important too, as it is difficult to replace a large amount of oil with another energy source for instance Domestic fossil fuel reserves Countries like Italy and Japan have few of their own resources Domestic renewable potential Small, crowded nations like Singapore and South Korea lack renewable potential Domestic energy mix France relies heavily on nuclear power, and the UK on gas. Import pathway risk The UK imports gas from Russia and Qatar, both long distance pathways.

Essay question With reference to named examples and energy types, explain how the UK’s energy security has changed over time. (include coal, oil, gas, nuclear and different renewables) Links Video -