12.1. Sustainable Energy Supplies (general trends)

Question 1

Non-renewable energy sources

Answer 1

• The fossil fuels and nuclear fuel.

- These are finite so that as they are used up the supply that remains is reduced.

Question 2

Renewable energy sources

Answer 2

• Energy sources that can be used over and over again. – It includes hydroelectric, biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and wave power.

Question 3

Factors affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 3

1) sustainability
2) levels of development
3) resource endowment
4) climate
5) world energy prices
6) capital
7) technology
8) pollution
9) energy policy

Question 4

Sustainability affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 4

Supply
Paris Accord 2016 shows that all Governments are aware of the need for a sustainable energy supply, and most are altering policy to adjust the way energy is supplied.

Demand
Public awareness of sustainability can alter demand, for example renewable energy tariffs in the UK.

Question 5

Levels of development affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 5

Supply
- As a country develops it can afford to use more energy

Demand

• The more developed a country, the higher the energy demand
• Demand increase due to Cooking (use of LPG and kerosene instead of firewood), Lighting (use of electricity instead of kerosene), Transportation vehicles (cars, public transport), Electrical Appliances, Entertainment, Labour saving devices

Question 6

Resource endowment affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 6

Supply
Energy resources are not evenly distributed, so supply not just affected, but essentially controlled by endowment.

Demand
Supply can affect energy prices which can raise or suppress the demand for energy.

Question 7

Climate affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 7

Supply
Essentially resource endowment for renewables.

Demand
Colder needs heating, hotter needs AC.

Question 8

World energy prices affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 8

Supply
Low prices may mean some energy resources are too expensive to develop therefore restricting supply, with the converse true for high energy prices.

Demand
Low prices can increase demand and vice versa.

Question 9

Capital affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 9

Supply
Most energy resources require a large amount of capital to develop. Exploitation, refinement, power stations, distribution.

Question 10

Technology affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 10

Supply
Energy technology impacts the very types of energy that are available, as well as the amount and therefore cost as technology becomes more efficient and cost effective.

Demand
New technology affects amount but also source, for examples cars and petroleum.

Question 11

Pollution affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 11

Supply: Similar to sustainability.

Question 12

Energy policy affecting the demand for and supply for energy

Answer 12

Supply Management
ensure that supplies are sufficient to meet demands.

Demand Management
decrease the demand to meet supply through tax, law, education and technology.

Question 13

Trends in Global Energy Consumption

Answer 13

• Energy consumption has been increasing rapidly across the world
• However, patterns vary between different regions and energy sources
• BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2015 estimates that total global energy consumption rose by more than 50% between 1990 and 2014
• From 8000 million tonnes of equivalent to 13000

Question 14

Which types of energy dominate energy use globally?

Answer 14

• The fossil fuels dominate the global energy situation.
• Their relative contributions are (2008):
  oil – 35%,
  coal – 29%,
  natural gas – 24%.
• In contrast, hydroelectricity accounted for 6.4% and nuclear energy 5.5% of global energy.

Question 15

Why is there higher energy consumption globally now?

Answer 15

• Bigger population
• Economic Development (especially in LICs)
• Technology
• Discovery of new energy resources
• Bigger population + economic development = huge use of energy

Question 16

Trends in consumption between HICs, MICs, LICs

Answer 16

• the more developed a country the higher the energy use
• All economies are increasing their demands for energy.
• This is especially true of newly emerging economies, especially the very
  large countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) where energy for
  manufacturing is the main growth.

Question 17

Energy Mix

Answer 17

the relative contribution of different energy sources

to a country’s energy production / consumption

Question 18

Trend definition

Answer 18

A change or development over time.

Question 19

Pattern definition

Answer 19

A change or development over space / area.