Section C: The challenge of resource management

• What is the relationship between energy consumption and distribution of reserves of fossil fuel energy resources?

  Places of high consumption have a high distribution. There is a positive correlation.

  UK is an anomaly energy deficit due to large demand but low supply

  Nigeria is an anomaly due to high supply with a low demand
• Why is energy consumption increasing?

  Global technology

  Mechanisation of farming

  Increase in industry/industrialisation in newly emerging economies, such as Nigeria

  Increased use of vehicles

  Urbanisation

  Increase in wealth/middle classes
• What impact does population growth have on energy consumption?

  Increase in people means an increase in urbanisation so increase in demand for food and housing which requires energy

  +

  Increase in people means increase in need for industry and farming so increase an energy requirement
• Factors affecting energy consumption + usage

  Development: higher income countries frequently lead consumer and throwaway lifestyles. Wealth and access to electricity dependent devices lead to high levels of energy consumption. Mechanisation across all sectors of industry as well as energy use in retail and leisure and transport, alongside affordable energy is linked to highest standards of livingModern technology:most modern technology requires electricity to power it, and it replaces all the technology. And improvement in availability and affordability of modern technology means more people are able to afford it and require greater use of energy so consume more.Population growth:population growth continues to take place at a rapid rate, so more people require energy to meet their needs
• Physical factors affecting energy supply

  Climate:supplies of most renewable energy rely on climate conditions. Wind and solar demand certain climates to be effective so supply is linked to local climateEnvironmental conditions :harsh or extreme conditions can make supply difficult, but uncomplicated conditions can make it simple, for example, permafrost, or arctic conditions can be difficult to exploit and fragile ecosystems are difficult to recover after being exploitedGeology:fossil fuels and mineral deposits of uranium are only found in certain rocks, so not all areas have equal supplies of minerals, meaning, not all areas have fossil fuels to burn for energy + no geothermal power sources
• Human factors affecting energy supply

  Cost:the cost of obtaining and converting energy can be very expensive and not all countries can afford it. This means private companies and countries with vast fossil fuels will purposefully have high prices for the energy to be importedTechnological access + knowledge:new technology requires more energy as people have jobs in the quaternary and tertiary sector. Not all countries are able to supply energy for the growing demand + are not able to create new methods of power to be used as energyPolitical factors:unstable politics can result in problems with energy supply e.g civil wars created for this. An example is the dissolution of the Soviet Union which had an impact on supplies of oil to Cuba
• Strategies to increase energy supply

  Better use of fossil fuels:combining fossil fuels with renewable energy supplies so that they last longerRenewable:greener energy supplies e.g HEP or solarNuclear:using nuclear power as a means for energy however there is a large amount of nuclear waste produced and possible accidents such as the Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters
• Impacts of energy insecurity

  Fragile environment exploited e.g Alaska

  Cost of energy increases

  Not enough time spent on the filed/ not enough space for food production

  Conflict

  Decrease in industrial output
• Advantages + disadvantages of renewable energy resources (1)

  
• Advantages + disadvantages of renewable energy resources (2)

  
• How does sustainable energy aim to balance supply and demand?

  Developing renewable energy supplies

  Conserving energy by reducing waste

  Improving fuel efficient

  Efficient use of fossil fuels
• How can you make homes more energy sustainable?

  Double glazing

  LED lights

  Solar panels for energy

  Insulation

  Recycling grey water

  Water butt to collect grey water

  Light sensors

  House orientation towards the sun (south in the UK)
• Energy conservation strategies for

  transportElectrical modes of transport

  Car sharing e.g in Sweden from 2019 all buses run with a mixture of biogas and natural gas
• Energy conservation strategies for

  reducing energy demand

  Financial incentives

  Raising awareness about the need to save energy

  Greater use of off-peak energy tariffs

  Using less hot water for domestic appliances
• Energy conservation strategies for


  using technology to improve efficient of fossil fuels

  Solar tubes being used

  Vehicle manufacturers creating electric cars

  Development of biofuel technology in car engines

  Carbon fibre to create lighter cars
• Global, individual and local energy conservation strategies

  
• Melela project


  5W’sWhen: in 2013 the first mini solar grid was installed

  Why: kerosene was previously used for energy but it damages the environment + is bad for health

  How:200 homes are connected and get enough electricity to power 2 small lamps, a mobile phone charger and a TV

  Where: a village 100 miles away from the capital (Dodoma)

  What: solar grid installed which uses photovoltaic panels to generate electricity

  Who: managed by a small company called Devergy
• Advantages + Disadvantages of Melela project

  Advantages:15,000 direct jobs and 1,200 indirect

  Saves families 50,000 ($12) a week

  Allows children to study due to constant light

  Safer community +People watch Tv so are better connected to the world

  Energy costs are lower so money can be spent on other sectorsLess kerosene used

  Disadvantages :Some villagers are not able to afford the electricityThose who afford it need more than they are givenPower generated using photovoltaic panels can decrease during the rainy season
• Why is there a higher demand for resources in LICs and NEEs?

  As their wealth increases so does the demand for resources
• Energy demand is going up due to:

  Change in lifestyle

  Increased population

  LICs have risen rapidly with China's consumption doubling from 1970.
• What areas use less energy?

  Below Brandt line uses less apart from the Middle East as they have access to a large oil reserve.
• Energy mix


  The range of renewable and non-renewable energy used by a country and their proportions.
• Sustainable energy


  Meets the needs of the present with out damaging the ability of future generations.
• The UK had decreased its energy use because:

  • Taxing/prices making people think

  • Better insulation in houses

  • Everything's more efficient (cars: start/stop technology, lightbulbs better)

  • De-industrialisation
• Uk fossil fuel trends

  Coal: The the last coal mine was closed in 2015 but we import it. In 1975 2/3 of energy was coal, now less that 1/2.

  Oil: Has decreased 8% from 2000

  Gas: There is a large natural gas reserve found under the north see.
• Renewable energy trends


  Expected to be 40% of the energy mix by 2030. More companies are investing and people are becoming more accepting.

  In 2010 the UK's largest offshore wind farm was opened in Thanet.
• Economic issues of energy

  • Fossil fuels - expensive to import, control effects of climate change mine/explores new areas (especially in densely populated or hard to reach areas)

  • Nuclear - Expensive to build, decommission and store waste.

  • Renewable - High set up costs, visual impact could reduce torisum/jobs and uses up land space.
• Environmental issues of energy

  • Fossil fuel - Greenhouse gases > climate change > flooding ect. Also creates visual, dust and noise pollution.

  • Nuclear - Waste has to be stored to avoid contamination. Accidents expose people and wildlife to harmful radiation.

  • Renewable - Can effect bird migration and sea life.
• Economic opportunities in energy

  Creates jobs in mining, research, development and manufaction.
• Environmental opportunities in energy

  Nuclear and renewable create less carbon emissions and renewable is sustainable.
• Fracking in the UK

  It is not currently being used due to water contamination issues, earthquakes and using large amounts of water.
• Fracking (hydraulic fracturing)


  The pumping of water at high pressure to break apart rocks in order to release natural gas.
• UK demand trends (food)


  • All year round seasonal demand

  • Exotic high value goods that we can't grow ourselves

  • Buying organic food
• The problem of UK demand trends

  • It leads to more food miles and more carbon emissions.

  • LICs might be in a food crisis but still export to us we could reject it and then no one eats it. Or the food is unaffordable where it's produced.

  • Ghost acres: not being used for own food.

  • Takes two years to become organic and requires more labor.
• Impact of agribusiness ( application of business skills to agriculture or food production)


  • Increased field sizes and farms

  • Removal of hedgerows

  • Mechanisation (more tractors ect)

  • Latest technology (chemicals/fertiliser)

  Food production is up but has environmental impacts
• Global food security distribution

  North America, Canada, the UK and Australia all have food security with the USA having over 3,480 kcal a day.
• Areas of food production vs distribution

  Food is exported around the world.

  The USA, China and India have the highest food production.
• Increasing food consumption due to:

  • Rapid population growth (especially in LICs, Africa has growth rate of 2.51%)

  • Economic development (Increase wealth means more food and more calorific food can be afforded)
• List the factors that effect food supply + how

  (Link them in answers)•Climate+ drought/water stress/desertification/floods > loss of crop and livestock•Poverty+ Can't aford food > to weak to work > can't afford seeds > less farmers and crops•Pests and diseases+ Pests decimate crops and diseases such as cholera reduce available workforce.•Water supply+ Floods, unreliable water supply or water stress (due to population) > crops need water•Conflict+ Food becomes a weapon (seized or destroyed), water supplies deliberately polluted and international aid struggles to reach —> army needs food to function•Technology+ LICs cannot afford roads, irrigation systems, warehouses and machinery that increase yield so have little supply
• Impacts of food insecurity

  • Famine - (1/9 of the world suffers from undernourishment)

  • Soil erosion - (Deforestation, overgrazing and over-cultivation for farming)

  • Rising prices - (Costs more and more to buy fertiliser, animal feed, transport ect. LICs hit hardest as it takes up more of their budget)

  • Social unrest - (rising prices > more food insecurity > conflicts)