ESCP Europe

Rarely has the world's energy sector known such a complicated and fragile environment as that being experienced in 2011. Energy demand is increasing rapidly because of growth in the developing countries. It is largely met by fossil fuels: oil, natural gas and coal, and also by hydraulic and nuclear power. The use of all these forms of energy now gives rise to controversy. A year after the uncontrollable oil leaks from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, the consequences of the accident are still being debated. The development of shale gas, currently the source of half natural gas production in the United States, meets strong opposition in a number of European countries. Even more serious, the accident at Fukushima has put into question the future development of nuclear power, particularly in Europe but also in the USA. There is considerable criticism of the use of coal, which is the source for most of the energy needs in China and a number of developing countries, because of its emissions of CO2 and other pollutants. Even traditional biomass, whose use leads to deforestation and to respiratory diseases, and the development of hydraulic power are the subject of debate. How should one judge between these different energies? How can decisions be taken between reducing consumption and increasing production? What is the future for new renewable energies? These are the issues at stake on the energy sector. This book appears just at the right time to provide clear and well documented replies to the questions that all of us, as energy users, are posing. How are the different forms of energy produced ? What does the future hold for them? Who are the players active in the energy scene ? What are the supply constraints? What is the impact of the strong growth in India and China on energy resources? from back cover.

Introduction --- PART 1. THE ENERGY ENVIRONMENT --- Chapter 1. Different forms of energy --- What is energy? --- Energy in its different forms --- From oil exploration to oil marketing --- Natural gas --- Coal --- Electricity --- Renewable energy --- Energy and sociology --- Chapter 2. Energy markets: outlook and challenges --- Energy demand --- Determinants of energy demand --- Energy pricing --- Fossil fuel reserves --- Outlook : future energy needs --- Environment and sustainable development --- Chapter 3. Structure of energy industries --- Natural monopolies and effects of size --- The petroleum industry: international oil companies and national oil companies --- Nationalization of gas and electricity in Europe --- Producing countries: control over their oil reserves --- Post the 1970s: liberalization, privatization and new regulations --- Situation in developing countries --- Ethics and energy --- Increased competition --- Other often forgotten players --- Chapter 4. Energy policies and security of supplies --- Solutions offered by the market --- How to improve supply security --- Means of supply --- Threats to energy supplies: the risk of physical failure of transport networks --- Securing hydrocarbon supplies militarily --- A special issue: strategic stocks --- PART 2. ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD --- Chapter 5. The North American continent --- Very high energy consumption --- Oil --- Natural gas --- Coal --- Electricity --- Challenges for American energy policy --- American foreign policy and supply security --- Chapter 6. The South American continent --- Oil --- Natural gas --- Electricity --- Dynamics and challenges --- Chapter 7. Europe --- Increasing energy imports --- Oil --- Natural gas --- Coal --- Electricity --- Organization and regulation of gas and electricity markets --- Security of European Union supplies --- Chapter 8. The Commonwealth of Independent States --- The energy scene in the Commonwealth of Independent States --- Geopolitics of transporting hydrocarbons from CIS states Hydrocarbon sector: political and legal consequences of the Putin era --- Chapter 9. Africa. Energy for Africa --- The importance of oil --- Exploration and production: players in the Gulf of Guinea --- African nations in oil globalization --- Conclusion: the new oil stakes in Africa --- Chapter 10. Asia Pacific --- Oil --- Natural gas --- Coal --- Electricity --- Agro-fuels and geothermal energy in Asia --- Asia: the challenge of supply diversification --- The risks from increased competition --- Chapter 11. The Middle East --- Energy consumption: "all hydrocarbon" --- The emergence of the Middle East oil giants --- Natural gas --- Other energy sources --- The role of Middle East oil production capacity in worldwide supply security --- The dominance of the Middle East and world energy supply security --- The Middle East and the United States: the deterioration of a vital relationship - the Second Gulf War --- Conclusion..