8-2-1-energy-security

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Exam code:9GE0

Consumption of Energy & Energy Mix

Energy Security

Energy security is the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at affordable prices

energy-mix-1 — **Aspects of Energy Supply in Achieving Energy Security**

Energy secure countries are those that will be able to meet all or most of their energy demands from within their country

energy-mix-5 — **Global Energy Security Index**

Energy Consumption

Energy is essential to the functioning of a country especially for the economy and the well-being of people

The consumption of energy (demand) is increasing as a result of:
- Global population growth
- Development and rising standard of living
- The essential nature of energy to our everyday life
Energy consumption is usually expressed in per capita terms using one of the following measures:
- Kilograms of oil equivalent per year (kgoe/yr)
- Gigajoules per year (GJ/yr) or exajoules per year (EJ/yr)
- Megawatt hours per year (MWh/yr)

energy-mix-3 — **World Energy Consumption**

Measuring how efficiently energy is being used in a country is important too
Energy intensity is a measure of how efficiently a country is using its energy

Energy Mix

The term energy mix is used to describe the combination of different energy sources that are used to meet a country’s total energy demand

One vital part is the mix of primary energy sources that are used to generate electricity which include:
- Non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas
- Renewable energy such as wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity and solar
- Recyclable fuels such as nuclear energy, biomass and general waste
Countries have their own individual energy mix, for example:
- Developing countries usually use natural resources such as firewood for cooking
- Emerging countries will see a rise of oil use as transport and car ownership increases
- As countries develop they tend to start using more gas and nuclear power as technology advances
It is important for countries to ensure a good balance between domestic energy sources and imported energy sources
Energy security increases as dependence on imported energy sources decreases
A country that depends massively on imported energy are at risk from sudden threats such as:
- Artificial and abrupt changes in energy prices
- Energy supplies being cut off by civil unrest or military campaigns

Worked Example

Explain why the level of economic development affects the energy mix of countries.

[6 marks]

This is a levelled answer so your answer will be marked against level descriptors
You will need to include at least two different reasons that are well developed

Possible ideas to include in your answer:

The energy mix for developing countries is mostly made up of biomass and waste (wood, dung) which is cheap and often free
Developing countries tend to use natural resources such as firewood directly for cooking
Transport and car ownership in emerging countries will grow rapidly so oil use will rise.
As technology develops, there tends to be a shift towards gas and eventually industrialising countries develop nuclear power
Some emerging countries may start to increase their use of renewables whilst others may not as economic development is more important
In developed countries oil remains high as it is vital for transport but the use of coal declines due to pollution concerns and is replaced with cheaper gas
Some developed countries have access to advanced technology so nuclear power is an option
Many countries will see an increase in renewable energy sources due to concerns over the environment and sustainability

Factors Affecting Access to & Consumption of Energy

Factors Affecting Access to and Consumption of Energy

There are many factors that affect a country’s access to and consumption of energy including:
- Physical availability
- Cost
- Technology
- Public perception
- Level of economic development
- Climate
- Environmental priorities

Factors Affecting Access to and Consumption of Energy

Factor	Description
Physical Availability	Domestic energy sources may be available, but they may not be easily accessible If energy sources are not available within the country, the energy will have to be imported (adding to the overall cost of energy to the consumer)
Cost	There are a range of costs involved in the access and consumption of energy 1. The cost of the physical exploitation 2. The cost of processing (converting a primary energy into a secondary energy) 3. The cost of delivery to the consumer
Technology	Modern technology is very useful in the exploitation of energy e.g., oil that requires deep drilling into the earth As a result of modern technology making energy sources more accessible, increasing energy consumption usually follows
Public Perception	Energy costs can be perceived differently in different countries, for example what may be perceived as expensive in one country may seem reasonable in another Public perception will usually depend on the level of economic development of a country and the standard of living
Level of Economic Development	The higher the level of development and standard of living in a country, the less sensitive they are to energy costs Developed countries tend to have relatively high levels of energy consumption as people have more domestic appliances that make everyday living comfortable and use more forms of transport
Climate	Regions such as North America, the Middle East and Australia have high levels of consumption as a result of the extra energy required to make the extremes of heat and cold more comfortable
Environmental Priorities	Governments may opt for more expensive methods to meet their energy needs out of concern for the environment and the need to reduce carbon emissions

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Geography A Level Edexcel