Access to Energy (Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0))

• Access to energy sources varies around the world, this access is affected by
  • Physical factors: geology, relief and climate
  • Accessibility 
  • Level of development
  • Politics

Physical factors

• Geology (rock type) affects whether, coal, oil and gas have formed
• Some areas have the potential to access geothermal energy due to their location near plate margins or magma plumes
• Climate can affect whether renewable energy is efficient 
  • Solar power relies on clear skies 
  • Wind power needs enough wind but not gusts 
• Extremes of temperature can make the extraction of oil, gas and coal difficult 
• Hydroelectric power relies on steady levels of precipitation

Accessibility

• Where energy sources are inaccessible: deep underground or under oceans: this increases the cost of accessing the source 
  • The UK has large reserves of coal which are uneconomic to mine due to the depth below ground

Level of development

• The development of a country affects the amount of technology available 
• Energy production can rely on high levels of technology and highly skilled staff which may not be available in developing countries including:
  • Nuclear power and geothermal energy 

Politics

• The decisions made by governments about which energy sources to invest in
  • In France there has been significant investment in nuclear energy
• Conflict can affect energy production and transfer
  • The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has impacted on oil and gas supply from Russia to Europe

• Global energy demand has rapidly increased. 
• Population growth and development are the two main causes of the increase in energy demand:
  • The higher demand for food leads to more intensive farming which requires more energy for machines, light and heat
  • Increasing industry requires energy for heating, lighting and machinery
  • There is more transport all of which requires energy in the form of petrol, diesel or electricity
  • Urbanisation increases with the development increasing domestic appliances, heating, lighting
  • Increased wealth means people buy more appliances and technology which require energy

Increasing global demand for energy

• Countries with the highest energy consumption per person tend to be developed countries and include Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia
  • USA has 4.25% of the world's population but uses 16% of the world's energy
• Countries with the lowest energy consumption per person are developing countries which are all in Africa and include Niger, Chad and Tanzania

Demand from economic sectors

• Developing (LIC) economies are focussed on primary economic activities such as agriculture, these do not have a high energy demand
• Emerging (NEE) countries such as India and China are focussed on secondary economic activities and the high levels of manufacturing use lots of energy
• Developed (HIC) countries are seeing a leveling off in demand for energy as manufacturing is reduced because increasing numbers of goods are imported

Energy use per person 2020

• The main energy sources are fossil fuels which supply 84% of the world's primary energy
• Renewables are increasing but only make up 11% of the energy mix
• Nuclear energy is 4% of the primary energy

Global energy sources

Reliance on traditional fuel sources

• Approximately 2.4 billion people still rely in someway on traditional fuel sources for cooking and heating
• An estimated 920 million people have no access to electricity at all - about 13% of the world's population

Global access to electricity