Strategies to increase energy supplies (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Increasing energy supplies

• Due to the increasing demand for energy, all countries need to ensure that they have sufficient energy to meet the demand

• There are three main strategies to increase energy supplies:

  1. Increase the use of renewable energy

  2. Continue to exploit fossil fuels

  3. Further develop the use of nuclear fuel

• Each of these strategies varies in its effectiveness

Effectiveness of strategies to increase energy supplies

• The strategies used to increase energy supplies vary between countries

• The choices governments make depend on the resources and finances available

• Sustainability is increasingly important

• This may be environmental sustainability but could also be economic or social sustainability

Increase the Use of Renewable Energy

Advantages

• Sustainability: Renewable energy sources will not run out; they are infinite

• Environmental benefits: Significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels

• Energy security: Reduces dependency on imported fuels, as renewable resources are locally available

• Job Creation: Expanding industries like solar and wind energy create many new jobs

Disadvantages

• Reliability: Some renewables (e.g., solar, wind) are not always available, requiring energy storage

• High costs: Setting up renewable energy infrastructure can be expensive

• Land Use: Large-scale renewable projects (like solar farms or wind farms) require significant land, potentially leading to habitat disruption

• Technological Challenges: Energy storage technologies (like batteries) are still developing

Continue to Exploit Fossil Fuels

Advantages

• Existing infrastructure: Systems are already in place for extraction, refining, and distribution

• High energy density: Fossil fuels provide a lot of energy relative to their volume or mass

• Reliability: Fossil fuel power plants provide a consistent and controllable energy supply

• Economic importance: Fossil fuel industries contribute significantly to many economies

Disadvantages

• Environmental damage: Major contributor to air pollution, oil spills, and habitat destruction

• Climate change: Burning fossil fuels is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions

• Finite Resource: Fossil fuels are non-renewable and will eventually run out

• Geopolitical tensions: Fossil fuel resources can create or exacerbate international conflicts over access and control

Further Develop the Use of Nuclear Fuel

Advantages

• Low greenhouse gas emissions: Once built, nuclear plants emit minimal CO₂ compared to fossil fuel plants

• High energy output: Nuclear fuel produces a very high amount of energy from a small amount of fuel

• Reliability: Nuclear power plants can run consistently, unlike intermittent renewable sources

• Energy security: Reduces dependence on fossil fuels, improving national energy autonomy

Disadvantages

• Nuclear accidents: Disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima mean that people do not trust the safety of nuclear energy

• Radioactive waste: Long-term storage of nuclear waste is

• High costs: Building nuclear power plants is costly and takes many years. Decommissioning plants is also expensive

• Public opposition: There is significant public fear about nuclear energy development