Three types of energy resource

Edexcel B groups energy resources into three categories depending on whether — and how quickly — they can be replaced:

• Non-renewable — finite stocks that run out once used. The fossil fuels: coal, oil, natural gas.
• Renewable — natural flows that will not run out, such as solar, wind, hydro-electric (HEP), tidal/wave, geothermal.
• Recyclable — sources that can be re-processed or grown again, such as nuclear (fuel can be reprocessed) and biofuels/biomass (crops regrown).

Watch out: Edexcel B uses three groups, not two. Nuclear and biofuels are classed as recyclable — don't just call everything either "renewable" or "non-renewable".

Renewable or non-renewable?

Tap an energy source, then tap the box it belongs in. (Nuclear and biofuels are grouped here with the flows they most resemble — nuclear as a finite fuel, biofuels as a renewable crop.)

Global patterns of energy supply and demand

Energy use is rising fast worldwide, but it is very uneven:

• Demand is rising most quickly in emerging economies (e.g. China and India) as they industrialise, grow richer and buy more cars and appliances.
• Supply is concentrated — oil and gas reserves sit in a few regions (the Middle East, Russia, North America), so many countries must import energy.
• The gap between high-consuming developed countries and low-consuming developing countries is sometimes called the energy gap.

Supply & demand: when supply falls (e.g. conflict in a producing region) or demand rises (an economic boom), prices go up. In a recession demand drops and prices fall.

Why access to energy is uneven

Not every country can get the energy it wants. Access depends on a mix of physical and human factors:

• Physical — geology (are there fossil fuels underground?), climate (enough sun/wind?) and relief (steep rivers for HEP?).
• Cost & technology — extracting and moving energy is expensive; poorer countries may lack the technology or infrastructure (e.g. an electricity grid).
• Level of development & economy — wealthier, more industrialised countries can afford to build power stations and consume more.
• Politics — trade agreements, conflict and diplomatic relations affect who can buy and sell energy.

What raises energy demand?

Energy security

Energy security means having a reliable, affordable supply of energy to meet a country's needs. A country is energy insecure if it depends heavily on imports or on a single source that could be cut off.

• Threats to security: relying on imports from unstable regions, conflict, rising demand outpacing supply, and dwindling reserves.
• Improving security: diversifying the energy mix (using many sources), developing home-grown renewables, and using energy more efficiently so less is needed.

Why diversify? A country that uses solar, wind, HEP, nuclear and some gas is not crippled if one source fails — diversifying the mix is a key way to boost energy security.

Boosting energy security

The biosphere as a resource

The biosphere — the zone of living things — is a vital resource that local people and the wider world depend on. It provides:

• Resources for people: fresh water, food (crops, fish, wild plants), medicine, and fuel/building materials (e.g. wood and biofuels).
• Regulating services: it stores carbon, keeps the atmosphere balanced and protects soils — so exploiting it too hard (e.g. clearing forest for energy crops) damages the whole system.

Impacts of extracting resources

Getting energy out of the ground almost always leaves a mark on the environment:

• Fossil fuels: mining and drilling cause landscape scarring, oil spills that harm wildlife, and carbon emissions that drive climate change.
• Unconventional sources: as easy oil runs low, firms turn to tar sands (needs deforestation and huge amounts of water) and shale gas (extracted by fracking, which can pollute groundwater and cause small earthquakes).
• Sensitive areas: exploration is pushing into fragile places such as the Arctic and deep oceans, risking lasting damage to ecosystems.
• Even renewables have impacts: HEP dams flood large areas, and wind/solar farms take up land and change the landscape.

Match the source to its impact

Tap an energy source on the left, then tap its main environmental impact on the right.

Sustainable resource use & management

To make energy last and cut emissions, we can use less or use better sources. Two ideas are often confused:

Common mistake: an LED bulb is energy efficiency (better tech); turning the light off is energy conservation (changed behaviour). Both cut demand — but they are not the same thing.

Efficiency or conservation?

Working out a renewable share

A country generates a total of 400 TWh of electricity in a year. Of this, 90 TWh comes from renewable sources (wind, solar and HEP).

What percentage of the country's electricity comes from renewables?

Different views on energy use

People do not agree on how energy should be produced and used. Different stakeholders have different priorities:

• Consumers — usually want energy that is cheap and reliable.
• Businesses / TNCs — want to make a profit; some invest in renewables, others still rely on fossil fuels.
• Governments — must balance a strong economy against promises to cut emissions and keep the country energy secure.
• Environmental groups — push for sustainable energy that protects the planet.

Rising affluence tends to push consumption up, but better education and technology (e.g. electric cars, home insulation) are helping some people shrink their ecological footprint — the land and sea area needed to support their lifestyle.

Your turn — sustainable energy

Efficiency or conservation?

Tap the correct strategy for each action.

Reading the impacts

The key ideas to know

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