Energy

Non-renewable

Types

Adv

Dis

Site

Fossil fuels

(coal, oil & natural gas)

Relatively cheap – low running costs
Reliable supply of electricity
High power output

Non-renewable – will run out eventually
Fluctuating price – expensive
High transport costs
Burning of fossil fuels
Release CO2 → global warming – melting of ice caps
Release SO2 → acid rain
Thermal pollution of rivers from power station – sudden change in temp decrease O2 supply & affects ecosystem composition
(Natural gas) Problems of damage to pipeline – leak – explosions

Plenty of flat, cheap land – for construction of large building & further expansion
Near river – water supply to produce steam & cool machines
Road transport – for coal deliveries & taking waste away
Close to population – for workforce
Near source of raw material eg coalmine – to reduce transport costs
Solid foundations – due to weight of power station

Nuclear power

(All of the above)
No atmospheric pollution & contribution to global warming
Use small quantities of uranium – will last many centuries
Uranium has no other uses / uranium reserves last 1000s years

High set up cost
Produce radioactive waste → long-lasting, dangerous – risk of cancer
Difficult to dispose nuclear waste
Public opposition of threat
Land cannot be used after closure for many years

Plenty of flat, cheap land – for construction of large building & further expansion
Near coast – water supply to cool reactor & safe transportation of nuclear waste
Road transport – for coal deliveries & taking waste away
Close to population – for workforce
Isolated area – away from ppl from radiation leakage & avoid public opposition of threat (protests)

Explain why relying on imports of natural gas could cause problems (5)

Non-renewable
Fluctuation of prices – expensive – increase balance of payment deficit
Impacts on natural environment eg air pollution
Supply may be restricted if there are political disputes
Problems of damage to pipeline – leak – explosion

Renewable

Types	Adv	Dis	Site
Solar	Renewable – won’t run out Cheaper running cost No atmospheric pollution No waste products Don’t depend on imports (When construction…) Creation of employment for construction/maintenance	Unreliable Low power output Only small amount of energy can be generated relating to initial cost High set-up costs (When construction…) Deforestation – loss of habitat – disrupt ecosystem Land can be used for other purpose	Lots of sunshine Large areas of land No shelter by buildings By using solar panels
Wind	(same)	(See above) Visual impact – can be seen for many miles – ruins the view Puts tourists off – loss of tourism Noise pollution Birds flying into turbines Can interrupt radio/TV signals	Lots of strong winds Mountainous / offshore areas Large areas of land No shelter by buildings By building wind turbines
Hydro-electric power	(same) Control flooding Reservoirs provide water for domestic & agricultural use High power output	Flood large area to build dams → affect ecosystem Expensive Need suitable location May collapse & cause devastating flooding Drought result in not enough water to create electricity Dam construction problems Water held back by dam Lower river flows Less sediment carried by river – loss of soil fertility – decreasing yields – less water for farming – less food	High precipitation Steep slopes Fast flowing river with reliable flow Narrow valley – steep sided & narrow valley, easier to build dam across river coz shorter, use less material Impermeable rock – provide solid foundation to build dam Large areas of land which can be flooded Sparsely populated – less opposition / don’t have to relocate many ppl
Wave / Tidal	(same)	Unreliable Low power output	In coastal areas
Biofuel	(same) Made from crops	Limited by location Cause flooding → affect ecosystem
Geothermal	(same) Comes from underground	Limited location Expensive	In volcanic areas By sending water down into hot rocks
Fuelwood	Cheap Easily accessible Renewable	Time wasted when cutting woods Carrying woods cause health problems eg back injury Child labour – children lack education Environmental impact – deforestation

Suggest why % of electricity generated from renewables can reduce from time to time (3)

Period of calm stops generation of electricity by wind
Strong wind stop generation of electricity by wind
Solar power reduces in cloudy periods & at night
HEP stops if river freezes / drought
Biofuel is seasonal

Explain why there is a relationship between GDP per person and the use of electricity per person (5)

Electricity availability tends to increase with development
In many countries with low GDP, many rural areas are not connected to grid
Countries with higher GDP likely to use energy in workplaces & have more home appliances
Higher GDP will enable investment in power stations/supply infrastructure

Suggest reasons why the importance of different sources of energy varies from country to country (5)

Availability of reserves of fossil fuels
Level of tech available
Gov policy / attitude towards the environment
Environmental conditions eg opportunity to use solar power
Expense in development

Explain why in many countries only small amounts of alternative energy sources are used (5)

Few alternative energy sources are available
Some in early stages of development
Limited tech in many areas
High set-up cost
Limited by environmental factors eg lack of sunshine

Much of industry/transport geared up to fossil fuels

Gov doesn’t priorities renewable energy

Explain why there is variation in the amounts of energy used in different parts of the world (5)

Varying pop size
Some countries have more energy resources eg oil, coal
Some countries can’t afford to develop energy supplies
Lack of tech
Using more electronic devices / home appliances eg air conditioning
Some countries are more industrialized – have more factories eg manufacturing industry is likely to use large amounts of energy

Explain why many countries are planning to use a greater % of renewable energy in the future (3)

Exhaustion of non-renewable resources eg fossil fuels
Fluctuating prices – expensive
Attempts to reduce reliance on imported fuels
Reduce atmospheric pollution – worries about global warming

Suggest reasons why many MEDCs want to reduce the amount of energy which they import (3)

Importing energy is expensive coz prices of oil are fluctuating
To reduce transport costs & balance of payments deficit
To be self sufficient so still have energy supplies in case of political disputes eg war
Increase renewable energy sources

Explain why the percentage of energy generated from renewable sources is low in many countries. (4)

Unreliable & low power output – can’t meet demands
High set up cost of power stations – can’t afford
Some are still in early stages of development
Limited tech in many areas
Limited by siting factors eg wind not strong enough
Fossil fuels are cheaper
Much of industry & transport is geared up to using fossil fuels – don’t want to abandon it

Case study

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Energy consumption	Uses 8000kg of oil equivalent per person per year
Why is energy use so high?	Highly developed city with wealthy pop & high no of tourists High car ownership encourages high use of petrol Hot desert climates with high temp encourages high use of air conditioning Low rainfall & insufficient underground water supplies encourages use of desalinisation plants which use lots of energy Has own fossil fuel reserves & can buy oil cheaply from neighbouring country eg Abu Dubai – cheap transport cost
Energy mix for electricity production	In 2010, 99% natural gas In 2020, 75% natural gas, 13% nuclear power plant, 7% solar farms Aim in the future – 100% nuclear, solar & other renewables (explain how electricity is generated using natural gas, nuclear power plant & solar farms)Why? To be self sufficient, don’t rely on Abu Dhabi – so still have energy supplies in case of political disputes eg war Reduce greenhouse gases emission Explain energy mix Dubai hasn’t diversified their energy mix coz UAE has large reserves of oil & natural gas – so Dubai uses natural gas for electricity generation & oil for transport
Problems with energy mix	Use of oil & natural gas is increasing steadily at 4% per year Dubai is 6th highest producer of CO2 Dubai too reliant on natural gas – running out – Dubai become net importer of natural gas from Abu Dhabi Energy too reliant on fossil fuels with pressure on its oil & natural gas reserves which are running out Thermal power station close to city – atmospheric pollution
Jebel Ali Dubai (power station)	Located along the shore of the Arabian Gulf, within the Jebel Ali Power Plant & Desalination Complex Accommodates 6 other stations & produces 7800MW of electricity to serve 1 million households Have 8 multi-stage flash desalination units