Energy Demand
- 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 development increasing domestic appliances, heating, lighting
- Increased wealth means people buy more appliances and technology which require energy
- Countries with the highest energy consumption per person tend to be developed countries and include Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia
- Countries with the lowest energy consumption per person are developing countries which are all in Africa and include Niger, Chad and Tanzania
- 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
Worked example
Study figure 1a below which shows global energy consumption
Energy Use by World Region
Suggest one reason for the increased energy use in Asia (3)
- Identify the command word
- The command word is 'Suggest'
- The focus of the question is 'increased energy use in Asia'
- This is a three mark question looking at only one reason so a detailed explanation of the reason is needed
- Answer:
- The big increase after 2000 (1) due an increase in global population (1) which means overall there will be a substantial increase in consumption (1)
- The big increase after 2000 (1) due an increase in consumption per head (1) a people become wealthier they generally have more appliances and devices which use more energy (1)
- Asia shows the biggest overall increase (1) this may be caused by the continued growth in manufacturing (1) which uses large amounts of energy in the process (1)
