Paper 3 Section C - Consuming energy resources

Name the three different classifications of energy resources and name the examples of each

• Non-renewable

  • Finite stocks of fossil fuel coal, oil and gas

• Renewable

  • Solar, wind, hydroelectric power

• Recyclable

  • Nuclear, biofuels

Define

• Renewable energy resources

• Non-renewable energy resources

• Recyclable energy resources

• Renewable: can be replenished at the same rate (or faster) as the rate of consumption

• Non-renewable: cannot be replenished at the same rate as the rate of consumption, so will run out

• Recyclable: energy resources that can be reused or regenerated

  • For example:

    • Nuclear waste can be reprocessed and reused

    • The fuels are made from organic material; new plants can be replanted and grown again replacing them

Describe the environmental impacts of mining and drilling (non-renewable energy resources)

• Open cast coal mines can cause landscape scarring

  • This can result in the destruction of natural landforms, making areas less attractive and reducing tourism

  • Abandoned mines can cause soil erosion and water pollution

• Carbon emissions

  • Burning the fossil fuels extracted releases greenhouse gases that can cause climate change

  • This also releases other pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain, damaging forests and aquatic wildlife

• Removal of forests

  • Land must be cleared, which may destroy habitats, disrupting ecosystems and reducing biodiversity

  • Contributes to global warming as fewer trees are available to absorb carbon dioxide

• Oil spills - oil can leak during drilling or from tankers transporting the fuels

  • Oil coats marine animals’ fur, destroying the insulating ability of the fur, leading to hypothermia

  • Poison marine animals

  • Destroy ecosystems and habitats such as coral reefs

Non-renewable resource extraction usually has long-lasting and global scale impacts on the environment

Describe the landscape impacts of renewable energy

• Hydroelectric power

  • Building dams floods valleys, submerging farmland, habitats and sometimes indigenous communities

  • Disrupts river ecosystems by preventing fish migration (eg. may prevent fish from reaching breeding grounds)

• Wind turbines

  • Require large areas of land, visually unappealing

  • Noise pollution

  • Spinning blades can kill birds and bats

• Solar panels

  • Take up large areas of land

  • This can destroy habitats, disrupting ecosystems

Explain the factors affecting access to energy resources

• Government policies

• Conflict

  • Can prevent energy sources from being extracted

• Development level of a country

  • Levels of economic development and technology determine whether countries can effectively exploit their energy resources

    • LIC lack technology to extract and utilise fuels

• Geology

  • Fossil fuels are found only in sedimentary rock

  • Countries on plate boundaries can use geothermal

• Climate

  • Sunny climates can use solar

  • Windy areas can use wind turbines

• Landscape

  • Must be on a coast to use tidal

  • Dams must be built in mountainous/ high altitude areas

What is energy use per capita?

The amount of energy consumed by each person in a country annually

Explain the global patterns of energy use

• High income countries use the most energy per capita

  • High living standards

  • Widespread car ownership

  • Presence of energy-intensive industries

• Rising levels

  • Newly emerging economies have rapidly increased energy use in recent decades, due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation

• Low income countries use the least energy per capita

  • Lack access to electricity

  • Rely on basic fuels such as wood or dung

Describe the causes in variations of global energy use per capita

• Levels of economic development

  • HIC: people can afford more electrical goods and cars, energy needed for electric heating and cooling

  • NEES: rapid economic growth increases demand for energy to power factories

  • LIC: fewer industries and lower incomes; many people live in rural areas without electricity grids

• Reliance on traditional fuel sources

  • Traditional fuels are less efficient, so they produce less usable energy and people consume less

• Demand from different economic sectors