eat vi a ice Before you read Mame as many sources of renewable energy as you can think of. Reading Read this article from the Financial Times by Hal Weitzman and do the exercises that follow. Wind of change sparks US renewables revival Hal Weitzman 1 The history ofthe US is replete with the US"s electricity. However, its 2004, renewable energy's share images of extravagant fossil-fuel history goesto show thatthe country _of total US energy consumption consumption: smoke billowing from was not always the great global stood at 6 per cent; and renewable ‘gleaming tains; long, sleek, gas- polluter itis today. And as the US energy consumption grew by 7 per guzzling cars: gigantic refineries moves to reduce its dependence on cent between 2007 and 2008, despite endlessly pumping out plumes of carbon fuels. alternative energy a 2-per-cent decline in total US diy air. Butthe reputation is some- sources are back in vogue. ‘energy consumption ‘what misleading. For much of the 4 In fact, renewable energy already © AUT per ceat ofthe total alterna- county's history, renewable energy plays a relatively significant role tive energy sources are rivaling playedafarmorecentralolethanit in US electricity production. _aclearpower's9-percent contribu- does today Discounting hydrvelecticity.tbe US ton to the US's energy make-up. 2 By the carly 1900s, hydmelectric is the world's biggest consumer of Although hydroelectiity remains power supplied more than 40 per renewable energy for electticty - by fa he largest source of enew- cent of US electricity needs, and consuming twice as much as able electricity inthe US. the real by the 1940s, hydropower provided Germany andthree times as muchas _sarof the renewable energy scene in shout 75 percent ofall he electric- Japan recent years has been wind power. i consumed inwestemand Pacific s Renewable energy. including The sector has grown strongly in north-western states. Fossil-fuel hydro, accounted formore than 7 per___recen year. Wind power now pro- consumption, however, rapidly cent of the US's total energy vides 1.3 per cent of US total cclipsed hydro, and in recent years consumption in 2008, according to electricity generation, up from 0.4 environmental criticisms of the the US Department of Energy. per cent in 2004, Last yea. the US damage dams can have on aquatic Although that is still dwarfed by overtook Germany as the world's ecosystems led to the decommis: energy from petroleum, natural gas biggest producer of power {rom soning of some plans and coal, altemative energy sources wind 1 "Nowadays, hydroelectric genera- are slowly but surely taking abigger tion supplies only asmall fraction of share ofthe country's energy use: in1. Find adjectives in paragraphs 1 and 2 that mean the following 2) excessive 'b) using a lot of petrol ©) very large 4) not giving a tre idea about something @) able to be used again f) relating to power produced by water 8) telating to nature, natural resources, ec 1) relating towater 2. Decide whether these statements about paragraphs 1 and 2 are true or false. In thinking about the US, 42) people imagine that fossil fuels have always been the main source of energy. 2) renewable energy has never played a bg part. 0, hydroelectricity provided near half of energy in about 1910. 4) hhydroelectiity provided three-quarters of energy inthe US in the 1940s. © hrydroetectric plants were closed because they were no longer econamical. 4 fuels like oil and coal overtook hydroelectric enery. 3 Choose the alternative (a, b or ¢) that can replace the expression in italic from paragraphs 4 and 5, 1 Infact, renewable energy already plays a relatively significant role in US electricity production. 4) main b) principle) important 2. Discounting hydroelectrcity, the US the ‘world's biggest consumer of renewable energy for electricity ~ consuming twice as much as Germany and three times as much as lapan, a) Reducing) Apart from &)Selling 3. Renewable energy. including hydro, accounted for more than 7 percent of the US's total energy ‘consumption in 2008, according to the US Department of Energy. a)tepresented b) audited «) balanced 4. Although that i still dwarfed by energy from petroleum, natural gas and coal, alternative ‘energy sources are slowly but surely taking a bigger share ofthe countrys energy use: 2) very tein relation to b)alotin relation to © average in relation to 5 «in 2004, renewable energy’ share of total US ‘energy consumption stood at 6 percent a)fell b)was rose 6.» and renewable energy consumption grew by 7 pet cent between 2007 and 2008, despite a 2percent o. a)although b) however cin spite of 7 .-decline in total US energy consumption. a}leveling of b) drop plummet 4 Look through the whole article and find what these percentages relate to. @) Gpercent ») 7 percent ©) 2percent 9) 9percent ©) 13 percent 1) 0.4 percent 5. Use expressions from paragraph 6 to answer these questions about energy in the US, using the number of words shown. a) Is hydroelectricity still important as a source of renewable energy? ‘Yes, in elation to this kind of energy, its still. (Swords) ') Isalternative energy almost as important as nuclear energy in the US? ‘Yes, alternative energy .. (4 words) ©) Has wind power in the US become more Important than in Germany? Yes, the US .. (3 words) 4) Has alternative energy developed fast over the last few years? Yes, it... words) €) Does wind power provide more that 1 per cent of ‘electricity in the US? Yes, it provided 1.3 per cent of total. (2 words) ) Are alternative energy and nuclear energy about as important as each other? Yes, they each make a similar... (1 word) Over to you 1 Did the information in the article about alternative ‘energy in the US surprise you? If so, in what ways? Over to you 2 ‘do some research onthe Intemet into the contributions made in your country by the different forms of energy mentioned in the artce.Before you read Inwhich year do you think the words oil reserves will run out? Reading Read the article from the Financial Times by jeremy Leggett and do the exercises that follow. You have had the credit crisis — next it will be oil Jeremy Leggett | AS it now admits, BP “did not have on peak oil arriving prematurely {ts sk assessment would tender such the tool” to contain a deepwater oil Annual Statistical Review of World wreckage insignificant. Leaders of leak in the Gulf of Mexico, Its fil- Energy soutinely states that there ae the companies in the UK's Industry ture with that Fisk must now raise about 40 years of proved oil Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy (questions aboutits approach toother reserves, that advances in technol. Security (ITPOES) ~ Arup, SSE. risks. Top of the list must be the ogy will enable much more to be Solarcentury, Stagecoach and Virgin threat that global oi! production will found and produced. that rising oil —~ argue that premature peak oil fall sooner than generally forecast, prices can finance the necessary would be quite as bad as the ambushing oil-dependent economies exploration and infrasiructure.and credit crunch, In the foreword to witha rapidly opening gap between that global oil supply can goon cis. FTPOES's report published in Feb: supply anddemand.The approachof ang for decades. Every year, peak-oil _ruary,iturged the UK government to the point at which global il supplies worrerssay they doubt the Opec oil “act now ... don’t let the oil crunch reach an apex, “peak oil” as it is producers" reserve statistics that are catch us out in the way the credit fofien known, worries growing num- echoed in BP's review, that technol- crunch did” bers of people. But, until now, BP ogy can only slow depletion not + The credit crunch neatly gave us has poured scom on the wortiers, reverse it. that rising oil prices do the second Great Depression. As encouraging the oil imlustry’seffon| _nothelp when it takes so many years for the oilerunch, the ITPOES com- to tocxtract new oil from increasingly panies fear an irrecoverable The exotic locations and that global sup. fall in global oil supply by 2015 at ‘easts doubt on the viability of the ply isheading foran imminent fall. the latest and that if oil producers deepwater production on which BP'sdisasterhas mired aregional then husband resources, a global industry forecasts depend ‘economy. collapsed the company's. energy crisis could abruptly morph Every year, BP publishes a repo’ value and dragged down the FTSE into energy famine for some oi! that is effectively {| —_consuming ations risk assessment 100. Yet failure with the peak1 Match each of these summaries (a-d) to one. ofthe paragraphs (1-4). a) An oil crunch will mean a global energy crisis. 'b) BP's annual review of oil reserves is unrealistic. c) BP failed to foresee the Gulf of Mexico disaster and, now, peak ol 4) The forthcoming ol crisis wil be as bad asthe credit crunch, 2. Find expressions in paragraphs 1 and 2 that mean the followin a) an unwanted escape (of oil) ) the amount of something that s avaiable ©) the amount of something that is required 4) the ability of something tobe done, from the practical and financial point of view €) the point when world oil production will be at its highest the systems, equipment, etc. needed to do or produce something &) the process of something becoming used up 3 Decide whether these statements about paragraphs 1 and 2 are true or false. Accordingto the writer, BP 8) did not have the: Gulf of Mexico leak. ) isnot able to judge risks effectively ©) denies that oil production will ever fal €) says that people who worry about an early decline in ol production are wrong, €) thinks that oll reserves will last another 50 years. 1) thinks that global ol production will remain steady over that time. 8) is of the opinion that new techniques for oil exploration will emerge. 1) agrees with people who say that ollmay reachits ‘maximum levels of production inthe next few years 1 equipment to deal with the 4 Use these expressions (2-g) to replace the expressions in italic (1-7) in paragraph 3 (reproduced below), keeping the same meaning. 8) unexpectedly early e) damaged b) greatlyreduced evaluation ©) make 8) destruction 0) surprise us BP's disaster has mired’ a regional economy, collapsed’ the company’s value and dragged down the FTSE 100. Yet failure with the peak-oll assessment’ would render’ such wreckage insignificant. Leaders of the companies in the UK's Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security ((TPOES) ~ Arup, SSE, Solarcentury, Stagecoach and Virgin ~ argue that premature* peak oil would be quite as bad as the credit crunch. Inthe foreward to ITPOES's report published in February it urged the ‘UK government to “act now ..don’t let the ol crunch catch us out’ in the way the credit crunch did” 5 Choose the alternative (a, bor ¢) that has the closest meaning to each of these sentences. from paragraph 4. 1 ‘crunch nearly gave us the second Great a) The credit crunch should have led to the second Great Depression. ) The credit crunch woutd have led to the second Great Depression. 0) The credit crunch could have led to the second Great Depression. 2 ..the IPOES companies fear an iecoverable fall in global oil supply by 2015 a) The ITPOES companies fear that global ol Production will fall by 2025, never to rise again. b) The ITPOES companies are afraid that global cit production wil go down by 2015, but may rise again, The ITPOES companies are certain that world oil production will go down by 2015, 3... iF oil producers then husband resources, a) If ol producers then increase their supplies. ») foil producers then ration their supplies ©) foil producers then keep their supplies at the same level 4... global energy crisis could abruptly morph into ‘energy famine for some ol-consuming nations. a) A global energy crisis might suddenly change into an energy surplus for some of the countries that consume oil bb) global energy crisis may rapidly evolve into severe energy shortage for some of the countries that consume oil 0) A global energy crisis would certainly change into severe supply shortages for some of the countries that consume oil, Over to you 1 Has the answer that you gave in Before you read changed now that you have read the article? Why? / Why not? Over to you 2 List all the effects that an oil shortage might have on the economy.India’s energy needs Before you read Do you know which five countries are the bi ‘change over the next 20 years? Reading Read this article from the Financial Times and answer the questions. [Level oF aificaiy jest energy consumers in the world? How might that by Kevin Morrison 1 India, a sleeping giant in the energy world, may have finally awoken, with energy consumption, projected to grow by the second fastest rate during the next 25 years, putting it just behind China, its bigger neighbour. Future energy usage, however, will still | fall well short of consumption rates in the doveloped world. India’s population of about 1 billion represents about 16 per cent of the world’s population, but accounts for less than 2 per cent of 4 its energy consumption. Even if the country achieves the forecast growth rate of 2.3 per cent for energy use during the next 25 years, each person would still be using less than half of the energy used by the average person in the developed world by 2090. Nevertheless, the growth in energy consumption in India is ‘expected to result in a doubling of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 25 years, according to the International ' Energy Agency (A), the energy watchdog for the developed world. 3 ‘The increased amount of CO, emissions to come out of India and China, will negate whatever we 5 are trying to do in the West in attempting to reduce emissions’ says John Waterlow, an energy India and its energy needs: Demand is rising but lags rest of the world analyst at Wood Mackenzie, “This is the conundrum, he says. ‘How can the West tell the developing world that it must limit the amount of emissions it can emit, which, in turn, affects the development of their economies” In spite of the increase in emissions in India and China, developed countries will have far higher per capita emissions than in India. This is largely due to India’s wide use of wood and cow dung in rural areas for cooking and heating. Biomass and waste accounts for ‘more than 50 per cent of India’s total energy use. Although its share is expected to dectine during the next 25 years as India’s consumption of oil, gas and coal increase, it will still remain the ‘most common fuel for residential energy consumption, the IEA said in its World Energy Outlook report. The IEA forecasts that Indian oll demand will rise to 5.4m, barrels a day by 2030, with more than 0 per cent of this consumption to be supplied by imports. This growth may push India into the top tier of oil consumers in the world, but still puts it well behind China, India’s low level of car ‘owmership is the main reason for the relatively low use of oil. Even if the car ownership increases in the next decade from the present nine cars per 1,000 people to 24 cars per 1,000, it is still lower than China's growth rates and a fraction of the levels of car ‘ownership in Europe, where one in two own a car. ‘India will never be able to have the same rate of car ownership as. the West because there is simply not enough oil in ‘the world, says Mr Wateriow. The TEAS projected strong economic growth rates of more than 4 per cent a year on average over the next 25 years will stimulate gas demand among ‘industrial users in India. Despite a recent significant gas discovery, this will not be enough to mect future demand. Therefore a substantial increase in gas imports is forecast, mainly through shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG). India has signed a $40bn deal to import LNG from Iran and is also negotiating with Bangladesh and Burma about bullding pipelines to import ¢gas. Nevertheless, coal will remain the preferred energy for industrial users. The IEA projects Indian coal demand to rise at similar rates to total growth rates of energy use {in the country during the next 25 years. FINANCIAL TIMES4 Read the whole article. How many types of energy are referred to, and what is expected to happen to India's consumption of each over the coming years? 2 Read paragraphs 1 and 2 and find the meanings of the words in italics as they are used in tis context. 2)... energy consumption projected to grow by the second fastest rate 1) made a picture or fim appear on a large screen {calculated to be in the Future i) stuck out beyond an edge or surface b) .. energy usage, however, will stil fall well short of consumption rates.. i) bea clear equivalent to bea lot more than ii) be much ess than billion represents about 16 per cent of the world's Population .. 1) officially speak or take action for other people i) isequalto ii) be a symbol of 4) Even if the country achieves the forecast growth rate .. i) prediction ofthe weather |i) what is happening now what is expected to happen inthe future ©) Even f the country achieves the forecast growth rate |) speed at which something increases in size i) payment fixed aécording toa standard scale li). percentage charged for borrowing money 1) ...halfof the energy used by the average person 1) not unusually big or small |) typical of most of the people (or things) In a group li). usual standard, evel or amount is expected to result in a doubling of greenhouse gas cause to happen li) success or achievement of something lil) profit or toss made by a company over a period of time 3. Use the correct form of the words and expressions from Exercise 2 to complete these sentences. a) China has a strong economic. expected to last for several decades. b) Energy savings last year were only €50,000, which 1 which Is sa msn the €90,000 target. 9) The over 508 nnn the majority of our clients. 4) Falling share prices. alls for the CEO's resignation. ©) The... is for more oil price rises. £) Our sales are nnn t0 grow by 4% a year. 8) The ann Worker in Spain earns €3,2008 month, 4 Look at paragraph 3 and find the words and expressions which mean the following. a) cause something to have no effect ') confusing and difficult problem ©) industrialised countries (2 expressions) ) countries that are changing thelr economic system to ‘one based on industry ©) asaresult f) when a country or region increases its wealth, For ‘example by changing the economic system 8) for each person 'h) by many people and in many places 5 What do these numbers refer to in paragraphs 4 and 5? e)nine 6 Read paragraph 6 and say whether these statements are true or false. Inndia 2) the economy is expected to grow annually by over 4%. b) the demand for gas is expected to increase in the industrial sector. ©) large deposits of gas have been found. 4d) there will be sufficient locally produced gas to meet the needs of industry. €) the government is in negotiations with three countries to import gas via pipelines. 4) gas is the most common energy source with industrial users. ®) the demand for coal is expected to remain stable. aso B25 05.4 d)90 fone in two Over to yous ‘What is the West doing to reduce CO, emissions? How could ‘some of the world’s largest energy users reduce their consumption? Why might they resist reducing their ‘consumption? Over to you 2 Use the internet to help you find out about the economic srowth rate in highly industrialised countries and compare it to the growth rate in fast-growing economies like China and India, What are the implications ofthis?Nuclear energy Before you read ‘What are some of the arguments for and against using nuclear power? Reading Read this article from the Financial Times and answer the questions, Tevel oF dificult Nuclear energy: by Fiona Harvey 1 For environmentalists, it is ‘thinking the unthinkable. Nuclear power, once the target of protests and demonstrations, has been transformed into the unexpected darling of some sections of the green lobby. The reason is simple: nuclear energy offers the hope of producing power on a large scale without burning fossil fuel. That would solve what many regard as the biggest threat the planet faces: global warming, Caused by a dramatic rise in the level of carbon dioxide since industrialisation. 2s people still want the benefits of industrialisation, and as developing nations pursue economic development ~ leading to predictions that our energy consumption and thus levels of atmospheric carbon could more than double - some experts depict the —oncemaligned nuclear industry as the best solution. The nuclear industry has _ itself assisted this transformation, through the development of new technologies designed to make nuclear power safer and to deal with Iong:term problems such as the disposal of waste. 3 But critics argue that the technology still suffers from problems. For instance, any nuclear reactor takes a long time to build and to produce energy. Safety concerns have also been heightened by the escalation in terrorist threats, Not only is there Come-back kid or ugly duckling? ‘the possibility of a terrorist attack ‘on a nuclear installation, but the ereation of nuclear material for use in reactors and the waste generated provides terrorists with opportunities to steal valuable nuclear materials for use in nuclear bombs, or ‘dirty’ bombs. Another question is whether nuclear energy would be economically viable. The upfront costs are discouragingly high at an estimated $1,300 to $1,500 per Kilowatt to build a nuclear plant, ‘which works out as roughly twice what it costs to build a gasfired power station. However, _pro- ponents claim that over the life of nuclear plant, it can generate energy at a cost comparable to or even’ cheaper than that of conventional fossil-fuel power. Detractors counter that the industry has been subsidised by ‘the public purse in so many ways, from research and development to clearup operations, that the energy is much more expensive than the sector admits. For all these reasons, though some green lobbyists support a nuclear future, most remain opposed. They argue that alternatives, from better energy conservation and natural sources such as wind, to technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, are more realistic and less risky. Bileen Claussen, president of the Pew Centre on Global Climate ‘Change, believes there may be a role for nuclear energy, but only when certain conditions have been met, “You have to make sure you have enough safeguards and that you don't have nuclear proliferation.’ Some governments also remain opposed to the idea. Sweden recently confirmed plans to shut down one of its 11 nuclear reactors, to reduice its dependence ‘on nuclear power. By contrast, Sweden’s neigh- dour Finland has heartily embraced nuclear power. The Finnish parliament recently ratified a decision to build a final spent-nuclear-fuel storage facility ‘and approved a new nuclear reactor. France generates three- quarters of its energy from nuclear sources, and President George W. Bush has indicated his ‘support for new nuclear reactors inthe US. Perhaps the most important government in the debate is China, ‘whose appetite for energy requires sweeping solutions. It plans to build as many as 30 nuclear plants, and to generate as much as 300 gigawatis from nuclear means by 2050. This has made other governments nervous. ‘The development of a problemfree alternative, nuclear fusion, is as far as 50 years away. Long before then, governments and the public will have to decide what part they want nuclear power to play in energy production. FINANCIAL TIMES4. Read the whole article. Which paragraph(s) contain the following information? 4) Countries that favour using nuclear energy ) Acountry committed to lessening its reliance ‘on nuclear energy ©) Why some environmentalists now support ruclear energy 4) Improvements being made within the nuclear Industry ©) Recent concerns about nuclear power and waste products 1) The hidden costs of nuclear power 8) Comparative costs of coal and nuclear power stations 2 Read paragraphs 1 and 2. Then replace the word(s) In italics in these sentences with the correct form of a word or ‘expression from the paragraphs, keeping the same ‘meaning. a) There were at some time in the past plans to build 2 new nuclear reactor. 'b) The company is the subject of criticism by safety inspectors because of its accident record. ©) Solar energy is very popular with many environmental ‘groups. 4) The use of gas, coal and olincreases the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. ©) The Swedish government is trying to achieve its plan to reduce dependence on nuclear energy. ) Amajor problem with nuclear energy is throwing away the unwanted substonces produced, 3. Read paragraph 3. Which of these disadvantages of nuclear power are NOT mentioned? a) Fears of nuclear waste Falling nto the wrong hands bb) The preparation time before any energy can be produced ©) Concerns about possible attacks on nuclear installations 4) Risk of accidents at a nuclear plant ©) Contamination of the local environment 1) The time it takes to construct a nuclear installation “4 Match the word partnerships from paragraphs 4 and 5. 4 upfront a) plant 2 nuclear ») purse 3 sastired © lobbyists ‘4 the public d) operations 5 clearup ©) powerstation 6 green f) costs 5 Complete these sentences using one of the word partnerships from Exercise 4. €) If money is provided by the government, it is said to come from. b) A factory that generates energy using nuclear material is called a... ©) Anactivity or activities which are planned to deal with a problem are 4) People who try to persuade the government to act on environmental issues are. ‘© When money is paid as soon as a project starts or a deal Is signed, this is known as 1) Afactory that generates energy using gas is described as a 6 Read paragraphs 6 and 7, then replace the verbs in italics in the sentences below (a-f) with a verb or phrase from the box with a similar meaning (1-6). signed (an official agreement) eagerly accepted made clear satisfy said that its definitely true there are ‘continue to be auewne a) The nuclear industry must meer certain conditions. ') The Dutch and Swedish governments remain opposed to nuclear power. © The Chinese government recently confirmed plans to build many new plants, @) France embraced nuclear power as its main source of ‘energy many years ago. ) India has ratified a plan to build a gas pipeline from Burma. 1D. The green lobby has indicated Its opposition to plans for a nuclear waste facility. 7. Read paragraph 8. Why is China's nuclear policy so important? ‘A Because it wll be the first country to use nuclear fusion, which is more dangerous than existing nuclear reactors. B Because It plans to build a large number of nuclear ower stations ina relatively short period of time. © Because other governments are worried about the competition from China's nuclear industry. Over to yous ‘+ Has the article changed your opinion of nuclear energy? ‘+ Would you be happy to live near a nuclear power station? Why (not)? Over to you 2 ‘+ Which countries have the highest dependence on nuclear energy in the world? ‘+ What is your country’s energy policy? What percentage of ‘your country’s energy is produced by nuclear power? What other forms energy are used in your country?