Energy Source & Mixes (AQA A Level Geography)

Revision Note

Sources of Energy

  • Energy sources are categorised into stock or flow and primary or secondary

  • Primary energy is a form of energy usually found in nature that has not undergone a conversion process - wood and coal

    • Some primary sources need to undergo a transformation process in order to be used, such as petrol

  • Secondary energy is energy that has come from a conversion process to generate a second form of energy, for example electricity

  • An example of this process would be coal that is combusted in a thermal power station to produce electricity

    • Coal can also be burned directly to heat homes

Sources of Primary and Secondary Energy
Sources of primary energy and conversion into secondary energy

Examiner Tip

If a 4 mark exam question asks you to outline sources of energy, make sure you can differentiate between primary and secondary energy. You will need to write four separate points and try and include an example to develop your answer.

Demand & Mixing

Components of demand

  • The concepts of primary and secondary energy can be applied to different sectors of the economy

    • Domestic:

      • Natural gas can heat homes

      • Can be burned and converted to electricity for domestic use

    • Manufacturing and service industry:

      • Oil can be used to heat offices and warehouses

      • Can be burned to drive machinery or converted to electricity for multiple uses

    • Agriculture:

      • Fossil fuels can be used to heat greenhouses and storage sheds

      • Can be used to drive farm machinery and tools or converted to electricity to drive pumps for irrigation

    • Transport:

      • Refined oil in various forms has traditionally driven the world’s transport vehicles

      • Increasing use of battery and electric powered vehicles from renewable sources

  • The amount of energy supplied and consumed by each sector varies

Changes in UK Energy Consumption
Change in UK energy consumption by sector, 1970 to 2019
  • The type of energy supplied and consumed varies spatially, due to several factors:

    • Countries at different levels of development will use energy in different ways

      • HDEs use more electricity

      • LDE development will increase demand for electricity

    • Availability of different energy sources

    • Relative cost of different energy supplies - price of oil is very volatile

    • Government policies on energy

      •  Most countries are attempting to reduce carbon output which means converting to more renewable energy

  • This leads to a contrasting energy mix within and between countries 

Energy mixes in contrasting settings

  • The UK’s energy mix is similar to other HDEs

UK Energy Mix
The UK’s energy mix
  • The UK’s energy mix is relatively diversified

  • Dominant primary energy sources are: 

    • Oil

    • Natural gas

    • Nuclear

    • A growing renewables sector

      • Driven by wind through utilising the climatic conditions of the island

  • Coal has become less significant due to:

    • Government policies favouring cleaner fuels

    • Cost versus profits from mining, make non viable as a fuel

  • Oil remains important for transport

  • Natural gas reserves in the North Sea provide a degree of self-sufficiency

    • Compared to Germany, where oil and gas are almost exclusively imported

  • Total energy use remains high (typical of an HDE)

    • Approximately 180 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) in 2015 (for a population of approx. 67 million)

    • However, this has fallen by 20 MTOE from 1971 

      • Mainly due to conversion from fossil fuels to renewables following political thirst for sustainability

  • Fluctuations in total energy use changes over time

    • A result of market changes (price)

    • And variations in economic stability (boom and bust)

      • e.g. there was a trough after the 2008 global recession

  • Nigeria’s energy mix is similar to other LDEs

Nigeria's Energy Mix
NIgeria’s energy mix, 2020
  • Nigeria’s energy mix is less diverse than the UK’s

  • The dominant primary energy source is biofuels

    • Mainly due to burning of firewood for domestic heating and cooking

    • Typical in a country with a low HDI (5.3 in 2021)

  • The other two main sources are oil and natural gas

    • Oil and gas fields were discovered in the Niger Delta in the late 1950s

    • A large oil and gas industry has developed

    • Today Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa

    • Despite this, domestic use of oil is limited as much of the oil and gas is exported by large TNCs

    • This is a typical situation for resource-rich LDEs

  • Large growth use of energy in recent years due to rapid population growth

    • 55 million in 1971 has become 220 million in 2023

  • Total energy use remains relatively low, despite a large population

    • Approx. 140 MTOE in 2015

    • Typical of an LDE

  • Renewables sector is insignificant

    • Only a small amount of HEP

    • Due to high costs

    • Compared to abundant and relatively cheap fossil fuel supply

Examiner Tip

In this section of the specification it is likely that you will be asked about the differences between how countries consume energy. Make sure you learn some of the reasons why countries might have different energy mixes. For example, the UK’s bigger economy allows it to afford a renewable sector whereas, Nigeria has to rely mainly on cheaper and more available sources such as oil and firewood.

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