Energy types (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Energy production

• Energy sources are needed to power technology, transport, factories, homes

• The amount of energy used globally varies from place to place

• Each country has it's own energy mix

• This will depend on several factors including the availability of:

  • fossil fuels

  • sunlight

  • rivers suitable for dams

  • steady wind speeds

  • coastal access

• Energy production also relies upon a country's investment in infrastructure and government subsidies

Renewable energy sources

• Renewable energy sources are infinite and will not run out. They include:

  • hydroelectric

  • wave/tidal

  • wind

  • solar

  • geothermal

  • biomass/waste

• Once in place, except for biomass/waste, they do not produce any greenhouse gas emissions

• Greenhouse gases may be emitted in the production, construction and transport of the equipment

Increase in renewable energy

• Renewable energy is increasingly important in the global energy mix

• This is due to:

  • Non-renewable fossil fuels will at some point run out and so they need to be replaced with another energy source

  • The use of non-renewable fuels is damaging to the environment.

    • Fossil fuels, when burnt, release greenhouse gases and the sulphur dioxide released causes acid rain

    • Mining and drilling for fossil fuels can destroy habitats and damage the surrounding environment

  • Increasing awareness of the impact of using fossil fuels has resulted in international pressure to reduce their use

  • Countries wanting to reduce their reliance on imports of energy sources and improve their energy security

Non-renewable energy sources

• Over 80% of the world's energy is provided by fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas)

  • 33% oil

  • 27% coal

  • 24% gas

• Fossil fuels are fuels formed from the remains of living organisms (plants/animals)

  • These are non-renewable as they cannot be replaced at a speed that keeps up with consumption

• It is estimated that based on current use and availability, gas and oil will run out by 2080

• The use of nuclear and renewable energy is growing but non-renewable fossil fuels still dominate energy production

• It is predicted that the use of gas and oil will continue to increase over the next 30 years

  • Fossil fuels are expected to still provide over 75% of the world's energy by 2040

Nuclear

• Nuclear fuel has the potential to provide large amounts of energy

• It is often used countries who do not have their own supplies of fossil fuels such as France 

• Nuclear fuel can be reused and is used in small amounts

• This means that although non-renewable it is not likely to run out in the near future

• In 2019, approximately 4% of the global primary energy supply was from nuclear power

• There are 439 active nuclear reactors across the world

• Most of these are in just five countries:

  • USA (92)

  • France (56)

  • China (54)

  • Russia (37)

  • Japan (33)

Fuelwood

• It is estimated that between 2 and 3 billion people across the world rely on fuelwood for heating and cooking

  • This is usually because they do not have access to other forms of energy

• Approximately 13% of the world's population does not have access to electricity

  • This is mostly an issue in LICs within Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

• Fuelwood is often included as a biofuel but the wood is not usually grown specifically for use in heating and cooking

• The reasons for this include

  • It is free 

  • It does not require technology 

  • That it can be renewable if the trees are replaced

  • No high-technology equipment is needed to use the fuel

• If new trees are planted this is a renewable energy source

• If the trees are not replaced it is a non-renewable energy source