Variations in energy use (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Reasons for high energy consumption

• The global demand for energy is not evenly distributed

• Some countries and some regions within countries use more energy than others

  • Countries with the highest energy consumption per person tend to be HICs, including Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia

  • Countries with the lowest energy consumption per person are LICs, which are mainly in Africa and include Niger, Chad and Tanzania

• The reasons for high energy consumption vary among countries and regions, but some of the main ones include:

  • Level of development

  • Industrialisation

  • Climate

  • Population size and growth

  • Availability of energy

Level of development

• Wealthier High Income Countries (HICs) have higher average living standards this means people have more appliances and technology that require energy

• There is higher car ownership and people travel more frequently

Industry

• Countries with heavy industries such as steel production and where there are lots of factories have high energy demands

  • Rapid industrialisation in emerging economies such as China and India has led to a significant increase in energy demand in these areas

Climate

• In countries with colder climates such as Canada and Iceland more energy is required for heating

• In hotter climates such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar more energy is used for cooling

Population

• As the population rises so there are more homes, businesses and transport, which increases the demand for energy

Availability of energy

• Access to cheap, plentiful supplies of energy tends to lead people to consume more

• In countries like Saudi Arabia where there is access to large energy reserves energy is subsidised, which means that people tend to use more

Reasons for low energy consumption

• The reasons for low energy consumption also vary between countries and regions, but some of the main ones include:

  • Level of development

  • Poor infrastructure

  • High energy costs

  • Climate

Level of development

• In Low Income Countries (LICs), people cannot afford to pay for energy

• A greater proportion of the population live a subsistence lifestyle which is based on farming this does not have high energy use

• People have limited access to technology and appliances, particularly in rural areas

Poor infrastructure

• Access to energy is dependent on infrastructure such as pipes and cables

  • In many LICs, electricity grids are small, unreliable and don't cover many rural areas

  • Gas pipelines and petrol/fuel stations may also be limited

High energy costs

• In countries with few energy sources, the cost of importing energy supply can be expensive, which increases prices

  • High prices lead to reduced consumption

Climate

• In temperate climates people do not need to use as much energy for heating or cooling

  • This reduces the consumption of energy in homes and businesses

Variations in energy consumption within countries

• Urban areas usually consume more energy than rural areas

• The reasons for this include:

  • Higher population density

  • Better access to energy infrastructure

  • More transport

  • Higher use of energy for heating/cooling, entertainment and industries

• Rural areas tend to consume less energy due to:

  • Fewer industries

  • Smaller populations

  • Less infrastructure and greater reliance on biomass for heating/cooking, particularly in LICs

• Industrial and commercial areas consume more energy than residential areas

• Colder or hotter parts of countries have different heating and cooling requirements which cause variations in energy demand

  • Florida in the USA will use more energy for cooling, whereas Minnesota in the USA will use more energy for heating