Non-Renewble Fossil Fuels (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography)

Importance of Non-Renewable Fossil Fuels

• The demand for energy across the globe is rising

• Population growth and development are the two main causes of the increase in energy demand:

  • 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

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

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

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

World Energy Demand

• Over 80% of the world's energy is provided by fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas)

  • 33% oil

  • 27% coal

  • 24% gas

• Fossil fuels are fuels formed from the remains of living organisms (plants/animals)

• These are non-renewable as they cannot be replaced at a speed which keeps up with consumption

• It is estimated that based on current use and availability, gas and oil will run out by 2080

World Energy Mix

• The use of nuclear and renewable energy is growing but non-renewables fossil fuels still dominate energy production

• It is predicted that the use of gas and oil will continue to increase over the next 30 years and these fossil fuels are expected to still provide over 75% of the world's energy by 2040

Energy use

• MEDCs use more energy than LEDCs

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

• Countries with the lowest energy consumption per person are LEDCs which are all in Africa and include Niger, Chad and Tanzania

• The greatest growth in energy use in LEDCs and newly emerging economies such as China and India

• Development means more use of energy in

  • Businesses and factories 

  • In homes as people buy more appliances and technology

  • Transport

Energy Use per Person in kwh

Energy security

• 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

• 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 security can also be affected by:

  • Energy sources running out

  • War/conflict

  • Natural hazards

  • Political disputes

Energy mix

• The energy mix in countries varies dependent on the level of development

• The most economically developed have a wider use of renewables and nuclear energy

• The newly emerging countries are more dependent on fossil fuels

• The least economically developed countries are dominated by biofuels which is mostly fuel wood used for heating and cooking particularly in rural areas