Big Idea – an overview of global patterns and trends in the availability and

consumption of energy

1. Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached,
after which the rate of production enters terminal decline.
OPEC stands for the organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and is an
intergovernmental organization or cartel of 13 countries.
Monopoly is the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or
service.
Cartel is an organization of a few independent producers for the purpose of improving the
profitability of the firms involved.
Brent crude may refer to any or all of the components of the Brent Complex, a physically and
financially traded oil market based around the North Sea of Northwest Europe
Light sweet crude is a high-quality type of petroleum that has less than 0.5% sulfur. With small
amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. It is the most sought after oil and the name
originates from how the low amount of sulfur creates a sweet taste and pleasant smell.
2. North America, Europe and Eurasia and Middle East are the biggest producers of oil while North
America, Europe and Eurasia and Asia-pacific seem to big the biggest oil consumers. Asia-
pacific has the biggest growth in consumption while Middle East has the biggest growth in
production.
3. Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached,
after which the rate of production enters terminal decline.
The relationship between oil prices and scarcity is the rising oil prices indicates increasing
scarcity
4. Oil prices peaked in the 1860s from the Pennsylvanian oil boom but has gradually decreased
since then until the 1970s in the Iranian revolution and peaked again in 2011 with the discovery
of the Arab spring.
5. High oil prices encourage research into alternative sources of energy because they become
scarcer when prices increase. New forms of energy resources become more affordable when
fossil fuel prices increase.
6. Biomass can be in many forms including fuelwood, grain, sugar crops, oil bearing plants, garbage
and wastes from animals and plants. It is converted into fuel by burning, gasification, and aerobic
digestion etc. For example, in China, human sewage is collected and used as fuel and fertilizer.
The pros are that it is accessible, simple, affordable, has economic and health benefits and gets rid
of waste and pollution for a good cause. Cons are that it is not totally clean, leads to deforestation,
less efficient and requires a lot of space.

Hydroelectricity can be thought of as a form of solar energy because the sun drives the water
cycle that provides precipitation.
Pros of are that it is one of the most widely used form of renewable energy due to it’s abundancy
with areas for water storage. For example, New Zealand and Nepal produce more than half their
electricity using hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is generally thought as clean as it does not
cause pollution. Inexpensive to sustain.
Cons are that the initial costs of obtaining hydroelectricity is quite high. Construction of large
dams and reservoirs severely impacts the environmental like dams drowning river valleys,
siltation, scouring, droughts, making lakes acidic and anerobic.
Geothermal power occurs in volcanic areas where hot rocks beneath the surface heat up
underground water creating pressure, so when well is drilled down, the steam released drives the
turbine producing electricity. Countries that have active volcanic areas include New Zealand,
Iceland, Japan, Russia and Philippines.
Pros are that geothermal power does not produce much greenhouse gas.
Cons are that there are environmental side effects like releasing poisonous gases, create saline
water that corrodes turbines and pipes, and additional risk for earthquakes.

Wind power is using wind to generate electricity. Many countries in western Europe use wind
power like the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and United Kingdom.
Pros are that wind power is pollution free and cheap to run once completed. Farmers use wind
power for extra income as land between the turbines can still be farmed effectively.
Cons are that wind turbines are expensive to construct and makes up only a minute proportion of
electricity. Wind turbines ruin scenic beauty of ridge tops and coastlines and the noise frightens
wildlife and makes life unpleasant for nearby residents.

Tidal power creates electricity by almost constantly turning turbines with moving water.
Countries that have built tidal power station are France, South Koras, Canada, China, Russia and
the UK.
Pros are that Tidal barrages are cheap and reliable once finished and produce no waste or
pollution.
Cons are that they are the most expensive types of power stations to build and interfere with the
migration of spawning fish into and out of the coastal estuary.

Solar energy uses to the as a source of energy and is used my Spain, US, South Africa, China,
India, Iran, Morocco and Turkey etc.
Pros of Solar energy is that it is clean, safe, unlimited
Cons are that solar cells are inefficient, expensive, and unavailable it most where electricity is
most needed in the night and on cold, wet days.