Energy Security (Edexcel A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Louise Stone
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Consumption of Energy & Energy Mix
Energy Security
Energy security is the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at affordable prices
Energy secure countries are those that will be able to meet all or most of their energy demands from within their country
Energy Consumption
Energy is essential to the functioning of a country especially for the economy and the well-being of people
The consumption of energy (demand) is increasing as a result of:
Global population growth
Development and rising standard of living
The essential nature of energy to our everyday life
Energy consumption is usually expressed in per capita terms using one of the following measures:
Kilograms of oil equivalent per year (kgoe/yr)
Gigajoules per year (GJ/yr) or exajoules per year (EJ/yr)
Megawatt hours per year (MWh/yr)
Measuring how efficiently energy is being used in a country is important too
Energy intensity is a measure of how efficiently a country is using its energy
Energy Mix
The term energy mix is used to describe the combination of different energy sources that are used to meet a country’s total energy demand
One vital part is the mix of primary energy sources that are used to generate electricity which include:
Non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas
Renewable energy such as wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity and solar
Recyclable fuels such as nuclear energy, biomass and general waste
Countries have their own individual energy mix, for example:
Developing countries usually use natural resources such as firewood for cooking
Emerging countries will see a rise of oil use as transport and car ownership increases
As countries develop they tend to start using more gas and nuclear power as technology advances
It is important for countries to ensure a good balance between domestic energy sources and imported energy sources
Energy security increases as dependence on imported energy sources decreases
A country that depends massively on imported energy are at risk from sudden threats such as:
Artificial and abrupt changes in energy prices
Energy supplies being cut off by civil unrest or military campaigns
Worked Example
Explain why the level of economic development affects the energy mix of countries.
[6 marks]
This is a levelled answer so your answer will be marked against level descriptors
You will need to include at least two different reasons that are well developed
Possible ideas to include in your answer:
The energy mix for developing countries is mostly made up of biomass and waste (wood, dung) which is cheap and often free
Developing countries tend to use natural resources such as firewood directly for cooking
Transport and car ownership in emerging countries will grow rapidly so oil use will rise.
As technology develops, there tends to be a shift towards gas and eventually industrialising countries develop nuclear power
Some emerging countries may start to increase their use of renewables whilst others may not as economic development is more important
In developed countries oil remains high as it is vital for transport but the use of coal declines due to pollution concerns and is replaced with cheaper gas
Some developed countries have access to advanced technology so nuclear power is an option
Many countries will see an increase in renewable energy sources due to concerns over the environment and sustainability
Factors Affecting Access to & Consumption of Energy
Factors Affecting Access to and Consumption of Energy
There are many factors that affect a country’s access to and consumption of energy including:
Physical availability
Cost
Technology
Public perception
Level of economic development
Climate
Environmental priorities
Factors Affecting Access to and Consumption of Energy
Factor | Description |
|---|---|
Physical Availability | Domestic energy sources may be available, but they may not be easily accessible If energy sources are not available within the country, the energy will have to be imported (adding to the overall cost of energy to the consumer) |
Cost | There are a range of costs involved in the access and consumption of energy 1. The cost of the physical exploitation 2. The cost of processing (converting a primary energy into a secondary energy) 3. The cost of delivery to the consumer |
Technology | Modern technology is very useful in the exploitation of energy e.g., oil that requires deep drilling into the earth As a result of modern technology making energy sources more accessible, increasing energy consumption usually follows |
Public Perception | Energy costs can be perceived differently in different countries, for example what may be perceived as expensive in one country may seem reasonable in another Public perception will usually depend on the level of economic development of a country and the standard of living |
Level of Economic Development | The higher the level of development and standard of living in a country, the less sensitive they are to energy costs Developed countries tend to have relatively high levels of energy consumption as people have more domestic appliances that make everyday living comfortable and use more forms of transport |
Climate | Regions such as North America, the Middle East and Australia have high levels of consumption as a result of the extra energy required to make the extremes of heat and cold more comfortable |
Environmental Priorities | Governments may opt for more expensive methods to meet their energy needs out of concern for the environment and the need to reduce carbon emissions |
Comparison of Energy Use in France and the USA
The USA (2nd) and France (10th) are ranked within the world’s top ten largest energy consumers
However, there are significant differences between the two countries as the total energy consumption for France is 243 mtoe compared to the USA at 2,224 mtoe
These differences can be explained by the following:
The USA has a significantly higher population of 334 million compared to 65.6 million living in France
The size of the USA results in the country experiencing extremes of heat and cold which requires huge amounts of energy (for heating and lighting) to counteract them
The energy mix of the USA is also significantly different from France
The USA only has 10% coming from renewable energy and 8% from nuclear
France has 10% from renewables and 41% coming from nuclear energy
The energy security of the USA and France differ too, with the USA being considered more energy secure than France because:
France relies on 46% of its energy supplies being imported as all of its natural gas and oil are imported along with the uranium required for its nuclear power
The USA only imports around 15%
Role of Energy Players
Energy Players
Meeting the demand for energy involves energy pathways from producer to consumer
These energy pathways involve different forms of transport, including tanker ships, pipelines and electricity transmission grids
There are five major players in the world of energy:
TNCs
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Energy companies
Consumers
Governments
The Role of Major Players in the World of Energy
Player | Their Role |
|---|---|
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) | An estimated 50% of the big players in oil and gas (e.g., BP, ExxonMobil) are state owned and so under government control which means technically they are not TNCs The majority of these companies are involved in a variety of operations including exploring, extracting, transporting, refining and producing petrochemicals |
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) | OPEC currently has 13 member countries owning around two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves between them As a result, OPEC is able to control the amount of gas and oil in the global market along with their prices OPEC have been accused of forcing up the price of oil and gas by withholding/slowing production |
Energy Companies | Most companies are involved in the distribution of both primary energy (e.g., gas) and secondary energy (electricity) which means they have a strong influence over consumer prices and tariffs |
Governments | Governments can play various different roles, for example, they look after energy security and can have an impact on how energy is sourced |
Consumer | The most important consumers are in transport, industry and domestic sectors Consumers tend to have little impact on energy prices |
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