Spanish Industry: Challenges and Opportunities
What Are Mineral Resources?
Raw materials are natural resources which industry processes into finished products. Energy resources are natural resources which, after a transformation process, provide power. Power is then used for industrial processes, transport, and many of our daily needs, such as electricity, lighting, and heat. Raw materials have three origins: animal (for example, meat, wool, and milk), vegetable (for example, cotton, wood, and fruits), and mineral (for example, metals and rocks). Minerals can be classified into three groups: metallic, non-metallic, and energy minerals.
- Metallic minerals contain metals, which can be extracted.
- Non-metallic minerals do not contain metals.
- Energy minerals provide energy.
Renewable Resources
are those which either regenerate naturally after they are used or are never used up. (trees, water, sun, and wind)
Non-renewable Resources
are either limited in quality or form more slowly than they are consumed. (oil, natural gas, and coal)
Principal Energy Sources
(OIL, NATURAL GAS, AND ELECTRICITY)
Conventional Energy Sources
: Oil and natural gas are conventional energy sources. They are fossil raw materials. Both oil and gas are considered non-renewable resources because they are used much faster than they can regenerate. This means they will be exhausted in the near future.
Conventional Electricity
: Electricity is essential for industrial and domestic use. It provides power for almost all modern machines and equipment, lighting, and heat. Electricity is one of the most widespread forms of energy today because:
- It can be transported easily over long distances.
- It is clean at the point of use; no waste is generated.
- It converts easily to other types of energy; to produce electricity, other resources of energy are necessary, such as thermal energy, hydroelectricity, and nuclear energy. Each has its advantages.
Thermal Energy
is produced in power stations. Burning fuel produces heat which then converts water into high-pressure steam. The steam turns turbines which are connected to electric generators. The generators produce electricity. Thermal power stations usually burn coal. Other power stations use fuel oil, wood, urban waste, and, increasingly, natural gas, which causes the least pollution.
Nuclear Energy
is produced by nuclear fission. When radioactive minerals (uranium) break down, large amounts of heat are produced. This heat is then used to generate high-pressure steam, which moves turbines and generates electricity. Nuclear power is very important in the US and France. However, Spain has closed several nuclear power stations.
Hydroelectric
uses the force of the water to produce electricity. First, reservoirs collect rainwater. When the water flows through the turbines, they produce electricity.
Hydroelectric Energy
is the most widely-used renewable energy. Canada, the US, Brazil, and China are the major producers.
Alternative Energy Sources
There has been continuous exploration of alternative forms of renewable energy which produce less pollution than conventional energy. Fuel cost is zero, and they never run out. The principal ones are:
- Wind energy; the force of the wind moves a huge wind turbine connected to an electric generator. Wind turbines can be located on land or offshore wherever there are constant winds.
- Solar energy: solar radiation produces electrical energy. There are two types: thermal solar and photovoltaic.
- Thermal solar uses collectors to capture the sun’s heat and make water hot. The hot water then flows through tubes in the collector and can be stored in tanks.
- Photovoltaic uses solar panels to produce electricity directly from sunlight. Solar energy can be produced and used in homes.
- Geothermal energy: the earth’s heat is used to produce electricity (cooling and heating)
- Biomass and biogas: urban and agricultural organic waste is burned. The heat and gases produced by decomposing waste are then used to move turbines which generate electricity.
- Ocean energy: from waves and tides. Tidal power stations function like traditional reservoirs, but they are very expensive, which discourages development.
Light Industry
: Light industry, or the consumer goods industry, provides finished products to the consumer. The principal light industries are:
- Food (producing dairy, canned food, pastries, and prepared meals)
- Light chemical products (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and detergents)
- Electronics (mobile phones, computers, calculators, stereos, and televisions)
- Automobiles (cars and car parts)
- Textiles (clothes, curtains, and so on)
Heavy Industry
: Heavy industry provides products to other industries. The principal types are:
- Iron and steel
- Metals in which mineral metals are transformed (bauxite into aluminum)
- Petrochemical in which fossil fuels, such as oil, are used to make products such as plastics.
- Cement in which rocks, such as clay and limestone, are transformed into materials used in the construction industry.
- Capital goods in which machinery and equipment are produced for other industries.
Differences Between Western Europe and Eastern Europe
In Western Europe: employment in industry is decreasing for two reasons. First, restructuring was necessary to improve industrial productivity. Second, outsourcing has moved production to countries with cheaper labor. Less skilled workers are affected most. Furthermore, many traditional industrial regions suffer neglect and economic declines.
In Eastern Europe (Romania, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia) industry is still very important. These countries have benefited from joining the EU. For example, their technologically undeveloped industries are receiving substantial aid to restructure and become more competitive.
The Challenges Facing EU Industry
However, the EU faces several challenges:
- Much lower investment in research and innovation than in the US and Japan. As a result, some cutting-edge sectors, such as biotechnology or information technology industries, are less developed.
- Strong competition from Asia in sub-sectors with low or medium technological content because worker salaries are lower. Although Europe cannot compete in price, it can compete in quality, with innovative, high-quality products which are technologically advanced and attractive in design.
- Commitment to reducing industrial energy consumption and pollution.
Energy Sources in Spain
Spain has a shortage of energy resources. Production does not satisfy all the demand, so these resources must be imported. Foreign energy dependence is around 80%.
- Oil is the most-consumed energy resource, but Spain depends on imports from Russia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Libya to meet the demand.
- Natural gas is used to produce electricity in industry and in the home. Its use has grown considerably in recent years.
- Nuclear energy now provides more of the energy consumed in Spain than coal. However, construction of new power stations has been suspended because of the environmental and health risks.
- Coal is used to produce electricity in thermal power stations. However, extracting it is expensive, so production decreases yearly. It is cheaper to import it.
- Hydroelectric power is also of great importance; Energy production from alternative energy sources is still small. However, to meet EU objectives for 2020, 20% of all energy consumed in Spain must come from renewable sources. This seems difficult to achieve. A system of subsidies has been introduced to help renewable energy sources compete with the cheaper non-renewable conventional sources. Individuals who generate electricity, for example, using solar panels on their house roof, can also sell their excess electricity to the electricity grid. However, for economic reasons, subsidies are now disappearing, which makes renewable energy, and the electricity produced, more expensive.
Spanish Industry Today
Data on employment, GDP share, production, and turnover indicate a decline in industry. In recent years, industrial employment has decreased to 16% of the active population. Industry now only represents 17% of GDP. However, Spain is now the fifth largest industrial power in the European Union. EU aid has helped strengthen and modernize Spain’s industry.
Industrial areas in Spain can be classified into four principal types: developed, expanding, declining, and scattered. Spanish industry suffers from significant weaknesses. For example, it invests too little in R&D&I, much less than the EU average. This is because companies are small, and therefore less able to invest in innovation. Many also carry out activities of a less creative nature. Therefore, most simply adopt existing innovations in the market, and do not innovate strategically. This reduces competitiveness in the global market, especially in cutting-edge sectors.
Words
:light industry:light industry or the consumer goods industry,provides finished products to the consumer.
heavy industry:provides products to other industries.
raw materials:are natural resources which industry processes into finished products.
energy sources:are natural resources which,asfter a trasnformation process,provide energy.
.Renewable resources are those wich either regenerate naturally after they are used or aree never used up.(trees,water,sund and wind)
Non-renewable resources are either limited in quality or form more slowly than they are consumed.(oil,natural gas and coal)
assembly plans:assam`bly plans are located all over the world.Products are the sold in many countries..
outsourcing:the various tasks which are necessary to produce a product are carried out at different locations.This phenomenon is called outsourcing.