Y10 Geography - strategies to increase energy supply

Why renewables remain below fossil fuels globally

High upfront costs vs cheap coal, weather intermittency and storage limits, geographical and land constraints

High Upfront Costs vs. Cheap Coal

Building renewables (offshore wind, tidal barrages, HEP dams) requires massive initial investment. Rapidly developing NEEs like China and India rely on cheap, abundant domestic coal to power industrial growth affordably

Weather intermittency and storage limits

Solar panels produce nothing at night, wind turbines stop in calm weather, and HEP drops during droughts. Because large-scale battery storage is expensive, countries must keep fossil fuels running for reliable 24/7 base-load power.

Geographical constraints

Renewables need specific conditions—geothermal only works in tectonically active countries (e.g., Iceland), solar needs vast flat sunny areas, and HEP needs steep valleys—whereas fossil fuels can be imported and burned anywhere.

Evaluating renewable energy to increase supply

Strengths (clean + permanent), limitations (cost, land + impact), judgement

Strengths (Clean & Permanent)

Infinite supply that will never run out; produces zero greenhouse gases during operation (helping meet climate targets); low ongoing running costs once built (e.g., wind met 10% of UK electricity demand by 2014; HEP generates 85% of global renewable electricity).

Limitations (Cost, Land & Impact)

High initial construction costs; weather-dependent (intermittent); takes up large areas of land (solar farms) or farmland needed for food (biofuels); large HEP dams and tidal barrages (e.g., La Rance, France) destroy habitats; wind turbines cause visual/noise pollution.

Judgement (renewable)

Overall, renewables are essential for long-term environmental sustainability, but because of high set-up costs and weather intermittency, they cannot meet global demand alone without reliable backup power.

Evaluating nuclear power to increase energy supply

Strengths (high output + low carbon), limitations (cost, waste + safety), judgenemt

Strengths (High Output & Low Carbon)

Generates huge amounts of reliable 24/7 electricity from tiny amounts of uranium; produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during generation, helping close the energy gap while cutting carbon footprints.

Limitations (Cost, Waste & Safety)

Power stations are extremely expensive and slow to build; produces radioactive waste that remains dangerous for over 100 years and is hard to store safely; strong public opposition due to risks of catastrophic accidents (e.g., Chernobyl, Fukushima 2011).

Judgement (nuclear)

Overall, nuclear power is effective for providing reliable, low-carbon base-load electricity, though extreme construction costs and long-term radioactive waste make it politically and financially risky.

Explain why non-renewable fossil fuels continue to be exploited to increase energy supply (and their limitations)

Why exploited (abundance + infrastructure), technology solution (CCS), Limitations (unsustainable)

Why exploited (abundance + infrastructure)

Substantial reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas still exist globally; existing power stations and transport networks are already built for them; provides cheap, constant 24/7 power regardless of weather.

Technology solution (CCS)

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) traps \(\text{CO}_{2}\) emissions from burning fossil fuels and stores them underground, reducing their contribution to global warming.

Limitations (unsustainable)

Fossil fuels remain finite and will eventually run out; extracting new reserves (e.g., fracking or deep-sea drilling) risks water pollution, earthquakes, and habitat damage.

Conclusion template to what extent is x the best strategy to increase energy supply

Judgement + justification

Judgement (template)

Overall, no single energy source can solve energy insecurity alone—countries need a balanced energy mix

Justification (template)

Investing in renewables (like wind, solar, and HEP) is vital for long-term environmental sustainability, while keeping reliable non-renewables like natural gas (with carbon capture) or nuclear power ensures constant 24/7 supply when weather conditions are unfavourable.