Trade and Export of Electricity and its Energy Sources

Electricity, an icon of the industrial age is a commodity whose demand rises as more and more electronic devices are developed and invented.  It has also made nations more dependent on one another as countries continually export electricity or sources of electricity to other countries. This happens because some countries have more sources of energy than others, sources such as oil, coal and gas. 

What a country contributes to the worldwide trade and export of electricity depends on the available resources with or without regard to the country’s surplus production.  The trade and export of electricity starts from its capacity for production.  Power plants are built to generate electric power from specific sources or energy.  Sources are either from fossil fuels (gas, petroleum or oil and coal), nuclear power, hydroelectric power, geothermal power, wind power or solar power.

Some countries export consumer electricity usually to their neighboring countries such as being done between the US, Canada and Mexico.  Power plants, power stations and power lines are involved in the distribution.  Other countries are involved in the export of power or energy sources most of which are fossil fuels.  Among the fossil fuel sources being traded worldwide, coal and petroleum are widely exported.  Uranium also is being produced and exported under strict policies.

The trade and export of electricity is also dependent on the political climate and trade policies of both the providing country and the recipient country.  A country such as Australia is an attractive and viable country to trade with because of its stable political environment and substantial power source reserves. 

Australia’s contribution to the electricity exports is its coal and uranium production.  Coal is Australia’s biggest commodity export which earned about $55 billion in 2008-2009.  It supplies 18 per cent of the world’s total coal trade and export. Most is destined for power plants in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan for electricity generation.

Australia’s uranium exports also play an important role in the global trade and export of electricity.  The country has a precautionary policy to trade only with countries who follows a nuclear cooperation agreement.  This agreement means that the country is committed to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.  That country must also have agreements with the International Atomic energy Agency or (IAEA) including an additional protocol.

By supporting the generation of electricity through nuclear power plants, Australia also supports global efforts to address climate change. Nuclear power significantly minimizes the emission of greenhouse gas.  If you are looking to trade with Australia’s best suppliers please visit this site http://www.ozsuppliers.com.au/product-directory/18-energy