Trends in energy resource use

Question 1

20th and 21st century’s electricity use

Answer 1

Over the 20th century, the electricity use of the UK hugely increased as the population grew and people began to use electricity for more and more things.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, electricity use in the UK has been decreasing as we get better at making more efficient appliances and become more careful with energy use in our home

Question 2

Our current dependence on Fossil fuels

Answer 2

• some of our electricity is produced using fossil fuels and nuclear fuels
• We also burn fossil fuels for oil to fuel cars, and gas is used to heat homes and cook foods.
• We are trying to increase renewable energy resources

Question 3

The move towards renewable energy resources triggered by

Answer 3

• Burning fossil fuels is very damaging to the environment, makes people want to use more renewable ER that effect the environment less
• people and governments becoming increasingly aware that non renewables will run out one day. Better to learn to get by without non-renewable.

-pressure from other countries and public meant that GOV have begun to introduce targets for using renewable resources. This in turn puts pressure on energy providers to build new power plants that use renewable resources to make sure they do not lose business and money
- Car companies have also been affected by this change in attitude towards the environment . Electric cars and hybrids are already on the market and their popularity is increasing

Question 4

Limit of use of renewables

Answer 4

1) even if there is scientific evidence supporting renewables, scientists to have to power to make people change their behaviours
2) Building new renewable power plants cost money, so energy providers are reluctant to do this as fossil fuels are cost effective. Cost of switching to renewable power will have to be paid either by customers in their bills or by Gov and taxes. Some people don’t want or can’t afford to pay which leads to arguments of ethicality.
3) if new power plants are built, there are arguments on where to place them. E.g. people don’t want to live near a wind farm so it leads to protests. Arguments about ethicality if people live next to windfarms if they don’t agree to reasons for use.

4) Some energy resources not as reliable like wind power compared to fossil fuels. whilst other cannot increase their power output on demand. This would either mean having to use combination of different power plants (costly) or researching ways to improve reliability .
5) researching on improving reliability and cost of renewables takes time and money- may take years before improvements made even with funding. Until then, we need dependable, non renewable power.
6) Making personal changes are quite expensive. Hybrid cars and generally more expensive than petrol cars and things like solar panels are pricey . Cost of these are going down but slowly and not an option for many people.