Energy (AQA GCSE Geography)

Global Distribution of Energy

• Global energy demand has rapidly increased

• Population growth, economic development and technology are the three main causes of the increase in energy demand

Population growth 

• The global population reached 8 billion in 2022

• Population growth leads to an increased demand for food, goods and technology all of which increase the need for energy

• Most population growth has been in LICs and NEEs where there are already issues with energy insecurity

Economic development 

• The more developed a country is the higher the demand for energy

  • The higher demand for food leads to more intensive farming which requires more energy for machines, light and heat

  • Increasing industry requires energy for heating, lighting and machinery this increase in demand is seen particularly in NEEs

  • There is more transport and car ownership all of which requires energy in the form of petrol, diesel or electricity

  • Urbanisation increases with the development increasing domestic appliances, heating, lighting

  • Increased wealth means people buy more appliances and technology which require energy

Technology

• Technology has led to a greater number of appliances which use energy both in industry and domestic use

• Countries with the highest energy consumption per person tend to be HICs and include Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia

• Countries with the lowest energy consumption per person are LICs including Niger, Chad and Tanzania

Energy use per person 2020

• Energy sources are not evenly distributed across the world

• Some areas produce very little energy due to a lack of natural resources or they do not have the money to exploit the resources

• Fossil fuels are the main energy sources 

• The main producers of fossil fuels for primary energy are:

  • USA

  • Canada

  • Norway

  • Russia

  • Australia

  • Middle East

• The world's largest producers are often the largest consumers of energy

• An energy gap is when a country cannot meet the demand for energy using its own resources

• When countries have an energy gap, they have to import energy to meet the demand

• Having an energy gap means that a country is not energy secure

• To be energy secure a country needs an:

  • Uninterrupted supply of energy

  • Affordable supply

  • Accessible supply

Energy security risk level

• The UK has a widening energy gap and is not energy secure because:

  • Renewable energy is not as efficient and so cannot replace full energy from fossil fuels

  • It is cheaper to import fossil fuels than it is to exploit the resources in the UK

• The commitment of many countries to tackling climate change and reducing the use of fossil fuels has increased energy insecurity in many countries

• Energy insecurity is experienced by HICs, NEEs and LICs 

  • Often in HICs it is because the demand for energy is so high

Factors affecting supply

• Physical factors 

  • Geology: affects whether energy sources (coal, oil and gas) are available

  • Climate: extreme heat or cold can impact on machinery used and transport. It can also affect sunshine hours and wind for solar and wind energy production

  • Location: some oil and gas reserves are under the sea bed, and reaching them can be challenging, some areas of tectonic activity are suitable for geothermal energy

  • Water supply: areas with plentiful water supply and valleys are suitable for hydro-electric power

• Cost of exploitation

  • The economic viability of an energy source is whether the cost of exploiting the energy source is less than the money it will make. This can fluctuate depending on energy prices and demand

  • Some forms are energy are more expensive than others: coal is relatively cheap whereas nuclear is expensive

  • The cost of renewables is decreasing as technologies develop

  • Wages are included in costs this can make exploiting the reserve unprofitable for example in coal in the UK

• Technology

  • New technological developments mean that additional reserves of energy can be exploited

  • Technology has helped to improve the efficiency and cost of renewable energy, there are also developments in energy storage

  • New energy sources are being developed such as hydraulic fracturing or fracking to extract shale gas and hydrogen energy

Fracking

• Political factors

  • Conflict can be caused between countries regarding energy reserves and who has the right to exploit them

  • Flows of energy from one country to others can be interrupted due to conflict: supplies of oil from Libya have been affected by civil war since 2011, and supplies of gas have been affected by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia

  • HICs promote positive relationships with countries who are major suppliers of energy to ensure the supply is maintained

  • Government subsidies for renewable energy sources may increase the supply from these sources

Impact of Energy Insecurity

• The need for increasing energy to reduce energy insecurity has led to a variety of impacts

Exploration of difficult and environmentally sensitive areas

• Polar and tundra regions: the search for new energy sources has led to exploration for gas and oil in Siberia and Alaska

  • Economic costs are higher due to the technology needed and higher wages paid 

  • Impact on the fragile polar and tundra ecosystems

• Tropical rainforests: large areas have been deforested to grow biomass for fuel

  • Increases CO₂ due to the loss of trees

  • Increases soil erosion

  • Reduces habitats and biodiversity

• Wind and solar farms in areas of natural beauty

  • Impacts on the visual landscape

• Exploitation of gas and oil under oceans

  • Risk of accidents and spillages which impact on the surrounding ecosystems such as the incident at Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico

Food production

• The use of land for biofuels decreases the availability of land for crops 

  • Food prices will increase

  • More intensive agricultural techniques will be used further increasing energy demand and energy insecurity

Industrial output

• Energy insecurity can lead to power cuts which affect industrial production

• Increasing or fluctuating energy prices affect profits 

• Industries may have to raise prices to pay for energy costs

• Industries may not be able to compete with those in other countries and may close leading to:

  • Loss of jobs

  • Impact on the GDP and economy

Conflict

• Concerns about energy supply can lead to conflict within and between countries

• Conflict between users for energy supply can increase prices

• Rising prices may cause conflict between those who can afford it and those who cannot

• Governments may have to make decisions about priorities for receiving energy supplies if there are risks of power cuts

• Energy supply can be used as a threat or bargaining tool by countries with an energy surplus

• Where energy reserves are found across a boundary as in Sudan and South Sudan this can lead to conflict and sections of countries wanting to be separate

Strategies to Increase Energy Supply

• As demand for energy increases strategies to increase supply are essential

• There are two ways this can be achieved:

  • Increase the use of renewable energy sources

  • Continue to use non-renewable fossil fuels and increase the use of nuclear energy

Non-renewable and nuclear energy

• Non-renewable energy are energy sources which are finite and will eventually run out. They include:

  • Gas

  • Oil

  • Coal

  • Nuclear 

• Fossil fuel energy sources are one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions

• All non-renewable energy sources have advantages and disadvantages

Table of Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-Renewable Energy and Nuclear Energy

Renewable energy

• Renewable energy are energy sources which are infinite and will not run out. They include:

  • Hydroelectric

  • Wave/tidal

  • Wind

  • Solar

  • Geothermal

  • Biomass/waste

• Once in place with the exception of biomass/waste they do not produce any greenhouse gas emissions

• Greenhouse gases may be emitted in the production, construction and transport of the equipment

• All renewable energy sources have advantages and disadvantages

Table of Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy

Example Case Study: Natural Gas

• Of all the fossil fuels, natural gas produces the fewest emissions

• It was formed from layers of decomposing plant and animal matter over millions of years

Natural gas formation

• Gas is found either in the large cracks and spaces between layers of rock 

• Alternatively gas is found in the tiny pores within sedimentary rock

• Russia, Iran and Qatar have the largest natural gas reserves

• Shale gas which is stored in the small pores of sedimentary rock can be accessed through fracking

Table of Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas

Sustainable Energy Supply

• Sustainable energy supply should balance supply and demand ensuring that future generations are able to meet their energy needs

• Sustainable energy supply does not cause harm to the environment and should benefit local communities

• Methods that can be used to achieve this include:

  • Reducing waste

  • Using energy supplies more efficiently

  • Development of renewable energy

  • Conservation of energy

Individual energy use and carbon footprints

• Individual carbon footprint can be reduced in a number of ways:

  • Walking or cycling to reduce the use of cars

  • Reducing food miles - buying locally produced and seasonal food

  • Buying an electric or hybrid car

  • Switching off lights when leaving a room and not leaving appliances on standby 

• In people's homes

National reduction in energy demand

• The methods outlined for homes can also be used on a larger scale for businesses and industries

• Incentives can also be offered for actions which reduce energy demand including:

  • Grants or tax reductions to install insulation, solar panels 

  • Financial incentives to swap to hybrid or electric cars

• Legislation can be introduced for building regulations to ensure new buildings are energy efficient

• Smart meters installed to make people more aware of energy use

Transport

• Many governments are encouraging people to buy electric cars

  • In the UK the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned from 2035

• Investment in public transport to reduce the use of cars

  • Reducing the use of diesel trains - UK has a target of net zero rail network by 2050

  • New buses are hybrid or electric

• Promotion of car share with car share lanes and priority parking

• Congestion charging - London has a £15 Congestion charge and an Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) where an additional charge is made on cars who don't meet emission standards

• Building of cycle lanes to encourage safe cycling

Technology to increase the efficiency of fossil fuels

• Combined heat and power (CHP): when power stations generate electricity they also generate waste heat which can be used to heat homes and businesses

• Carbon capture and storage which removes the carbon produced when burning fossil fuels and stores it underground

• More efficient car engines and aerodynamic car design to reduce fuel use

• Hybrid and electric cars

• Improved efficiency for electrical appliances

Example Case Study: Micro-Hydro, Nepal

Energy use

• Nepal is a developing country located between China and India

• The landscape is mountainous and includes much of the Himalayas

• The population is rural with only 16% of the population living in towns and cities

• Energy demand is very low but growing as the country develops

Energy mix

• The main source of energy for 82% of the rural population is fuelwood

• In urban areas the use of fuelwood is 36%

• Nepal has no suitable coal, oil or gas reserves so these have to be imported

• 98% of all electricity in Nepal is generated through hydropower

Energy mix in Nepal

Sustainable future

• Access to electricity has increased rapidly over the past 15 years:

  • 93% of the population now have access to electricity (2023)

• Support from the World Bank has led to more investment in hydropower

• There are now over 3000 micro-hydro plants in Nepal

Ruma Khola micro-hydro

• Completed in 2009

• Provides electricity for the town of Darbang and five neighbouring villages

• It supplies energy for 22 industries including:

  • metal workshop, furniture manufacturers, a cement block manufacturer, a noodle factory, poultry farms and dairy farms

• Built and operated by the community the micro-hydro plant was funded using grants from the government with support from the World Bank

• The loans are paid back using money that the community pay for the electricity supply

• It has improved the standard of living in the communities

• Reliance on kerosene and fuelwood has reduced and emissions have fallen

• Deforestation has decreased