Factors Affecting the Demand for Energy (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note
Exam code: 0680
What factors affect energy demand?
Transport
Demand increases when more people use cars, buses, trains and planes
Transport needs large amounts of fuel or electricity
More road networks and airports increase energy use
Growth in delivery services and online shopping increases fuel use for transport
Personal and national wealth
Wealthier people use more electrical appliances, heating and cooling
High-income countries have more vehicles and larger homes, increasing energy use
Wealthier nations have more industry and technology, which require large amounts of energy
A weaker economy results in:
Less manufacturing (less energy used)
Less transport of goods (less energy used)
Less purchasing of foreign energy supplies (less energy used)
Climate
Cold climates need more heating in homes, schools and workplaces
Hot climates need more air conditioning, increasing electricity demand
Extreme weather (storms, heatwaves) increases use of cooling, heating and emergency services
Human population size
Larger populations require more housing, transport and electricity
Growing populations increase demand for food production, which uses energy for machinery and transport
More people increases demand for public services like hospitals and schools, raising energy use
Industry
Countries with more manufacturing and heavy industry use far more energy
Factories, machinery and processing plants need continuous power
As a country develops, industry expands and energy demand rises
Disruption to supply
Natural disasters (storms, floods, earthquakes) can damage power stations, pipelines or grids
This can create sudden increases in demand elsewhere
Political conflicts can disrupt oil and gas supply, causing shortages
When supply is disrupted, people may need backup generators, increasing energy use
Unreliable supply
Areas with unreliable electricity supply may rely on generators, which need extra fuel
People may store spare fuel or batteries, increasing overall energy demand
Businesses may use multiple energy sources to avoid outages, raising consumption
Scarcity of resources
When energy resources become scarce, countries may try to extract more to maintain supply
Scarcity increases demand for alternative sources, such as renewables or imported fuel
As fossil fuel reserves decline, countries may use more energy searching for new reserves
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When explaining energy demand, always link the factor to a specific effect. For example, don’t just say “wealth increases energy use”—say “wealth increases energy use because more appliances and cars are used.” Examiners want clear cause-and-effect.
For population size, avoid vague ideas like “more people need more energy.” Instead, give concrete examples such as “more homes, more transport, and more food production.” Specific examples always gain more marks
Students often confuse unreliable supply with scarcity. Unreliable supply is about electricity cutting out; scarcity is about fuel running out.
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