Location factorsLocation factors

Energy resourcesEnergy resources

Energy & electricityEnergy & electricity• Electricity is the flow of electrical

power or charge. • It is a secondary energy source

which means that we get it from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other natural sources, which are called primary sources.

• The energy sources we use to make electricity can be renewable or non-renewable,

• but electricity itself is neither renewable or non-renewable.

Renewable energy resourcesRenewable energy resources

• Solar energy

• HEP

• Tidal power

• Wind power

• Geothermal energy

• Water motion

• Biofuels

Non-renewable energyNon-renewable energy

• Firewood/charcoal

• Coal

• Oil/petroleum

• Natural gas

• Nuclear power

What are the uses of energy in What are the uses of energy in industries?industries?

To power the machinesTo power the machines

To transport RM and productsTo transport RM and products

To burn and remove impurities To burn and remove impurities in RMin RM

• To smelt ores to extract useable metals

To convert RM to final goodsTo convert RM to final goods

To produce secondary energy To produce secondary energy

CharcoalCharcoal

• Dirty• Bulky• Great amount

used• Difficult in

transport• High production

cost

Where can we get charcoal?Where can we get charcoal?

• Woodland location

• Example: early iron industry

Motive powerMotive power

• Immobile• Can’t be

transported

Where is the industry located?Where is the industry located?

• By the sides of a river/stream

• Example: Textile industry in Somerset, Britain in 14th century

CoalCoal

• Strong locational influence

• Highly localized

• Therefore, industries are coal field-oriented

• Example: early steel industries in Pittsburgh, USA

ElectricityElectricity

• Mobile = can be transported by cables and pylons (>1500 km from power station)

• ubiquitous

• Therefore, free from the sources of power

• Reduce the pull of energy

ElectricityElectricity

• Allows some old industries in the coalfield continue to operate (geographical inertia)

CoalCoal

• Allows other factors to influence the location of industries

• Like market

• So industries can now be located away from power resources and power stations

CoalCoal

• Some stick to coastal location (port-oriented)

• Due to import of power resources, e.g. coal

• Example: iron and steel ind. have been located along NE USA to obtain imported RM at lower cost

Petroleum & natural gasPetroleum & natural gas

• Small impact on industrial location

• Can be easily transported by pipelines, e.g. Alaska

• And by supertankers

• But port locations are attractive ind. locations

HEPHEP• Associated with aluminium smeltin

g & pulp ind., which requires a lot of energy

• Pull on ind. location is not strong• As it can be conveniently transmitte

d by high-tension wires• Allow other factors to become more

important, e.g. labour supply and market

Nuclear powerNuclear power

• Produced by nuclear reactors

• Located in remote areas

• Because of radiation danger

• unlikely to attract ind.

Aluminium smeltingAluminium smelting• energy-intensive/power-oriented• Aluminium smelters at Kitimat in Br

itish Columbia• Electro-chemical industries around

Niagara Falls, S. Norway.• It requires on average 15.7 kWh of

electricity to produce 1 kg of aluminium.

• The smelting process is continuous/ cannot easily be stopped and restarted.

• Therefore, reliable power supply is essential

Aluminium smeltingAluminium smelting• Design and process improvements have

progressively reduced this figure from about 21kWh in the 1950's.

Aluminium & HEPAluminium & HEP

• > 55% of the world's primary aluminium is produced using HEP

• HEP dams and their related aluminium smelters tend to be situated in remote areas.

• Most other aluminium smelters are located in energy-surplus regions.

Recent trend: Global shift in aluRecent trend: Global shift in aluminium smeltersminium smelters

• From MDCs to LDCs such as Latin America.

• e.g. build Al. smelters in Trinidad & TobagoReasons:

Rising energy costs in developed world

Low energy cost (local gas) RM are found (bauxite) Access to N. American markets

Is power still an important Is power still an important location factor now?location factor now?

• Important for those ind. which consume a large amount of energy

• For other ind., regularity and consistency supply of electricity is more important

• Often occur in many newly industrialized countries with the lack of infrastructure

• Example: Daya Bay