7.2 Energy sources—uses and management

Objective notes

10 learning objectives

7.2.1Energy source types

• Renewable: wind, solar, tidal, wood, geothermal, hydropower

• Non-renewable: nuclear, fossil fuels

7.2.2Global energy consumption rising

• Population increase, per capita demand

• Fossil fuels dominate, renewables increasing

7.2.3Energy source sustainability

• Varies significantly

• Both types have environmental costs

7.2.4Country energy choices

• Factors: sustainability, cost, pollution, efficiency, availability, security

7.2.5Intermittent energy production

• Some renewables require energy storage

• Solutions: batteries, pumped hydroelectricity, fuel cells, thermal storage

7.2.6Energy conservation and efficiency

• Reduce dependence on imports

• Behavioural changes, efficient technologies

7.2.7(HL)—Energy security

• Access to affordable and reliable energy sources

• Improved by efficiency, diversification, reducing imports

7.2.8(HL)—Fossil fuel dependence

• Global economy depends on finite reserves

• Coal, oil, natural gas

7.2.9(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 waste

7.2.10(HL)—Battery storage requirements

• Large-scale needed for emission reduction

• Requires: lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements

• Mining/processing create pollution, geopolitical tensions