What you’ll learn10 learning objectivesChoose one objective for a focused lesson, or study the complete topic.7.2.1Energy source types• Renewable: wind, solar, tidal, wood, geothermal, hydropower• Non-renewable: nuclear, fossil fuelsSyllabus objective7.2.2Global energy consumption rising• Population increase, per capita demand• Fossil fuels dominate, renewables increasingSyllabus objective7.2.3Energy source sustainability• Varies significantly• Both types have environmental costsSyllabus objective7.2.4Country energy choices• Factors: sustainability, cost, pollution, efficiency, availability, securitySyllabus objective7.2.5Intermittent energy production• Some renewables require energy storage• Solutions: batteries, pumped hydroelectricity, fuel cells, thermal storageSyllabus objective7.2.6Energy conservation and efficiency• Reduce dependence on imports• Behavioural changes, efficient technologiesSyllabus objective7.2.7(HL)—Energy security• Access to affordable and reliable energy sources• Improved by efficiency, diversification, reducing importsSyllabus objective7.2.8(HL)—Fossil fuel dependence• Global economy depends on finite reserves• Coal, oil, natural gasSyllabus objective7.2.9(HL)—Nuclear power• Non-renewable, low-carbon electricity production• Fission reactions (uranium/plutonium)• Advantages: low-cost, constant, low-carbon• Disadvantages: mining impacts, thermal pollution, accident risk, radioactive wasteSyllabus objective7.2.10(HL)—Battery storage requirements• Large-scale needed for emission reduction• Requires: lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements• Mining/processing create pollution, geopolitical tensionsSyllabus objective
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