6.4b factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

Question 1

UK and Norway energy consumption

Answer 1

UK’s energy consumption per capita was 2776kg of oil equivalent in 2014

Norway –> 5595kg of oil equivalent

Question 2

physical availability

Answer 2

Norway is mountainous with steep valleys and plentiful rainfall
this makes it suitable for HEP –> in 2010, 40% of Norway’s energy came from HEP

Norway also exports coal from Svalbard and natural gas and oil from Norway’s terrestrial waters

The UK was heavily reliant on coal till the 1950s when the North Sea oil and gas reserves were discovered
the proportion of gas in the UK’s energy mix subsequently increased from 14% in 1980 to 40% in 2012

Question 3

cost of different sources affects their consumption

Answer 3

Middle Eastern oil prices rose in the early 1970s –> the North Sea became a secure and cost-effective alternative

but stocks of the North Sea are falling which is forcing the UK to import more

HEP costs are low after initial investment so it’s a more viable option for Norway

Question 4

political considerations

Answer 4

the Norwegian government has an interventionist approach which prevents foreign companies from ownership of primary energy source sites

sales of fossil fuels bring taxes and royalties to the Norwegian government –> go to a sovereign wealth fund to fund renewables (98% of electricity production comes from renewable sources)

UK’s increasing reliance on energy imports –> political issue
privatisation of the UK’s energy supply industry in the 1980s meant that overseas companies control which energy sources are used to meet UK demand

Question 5

economic development

Answer 5

GDP per capita (2015)

UK –> US $41,200
Norway –> US 61,500