What you'll learn

• How energy resources are classified as renewable or non-renewable.
• Why countries use different energy mixes, including the UK.
• How demand for energy has changed and how different resources affect people and the environment.
• How energy can be managed more sustainably at local, national and international scales.

In Topic 6 you study either Energy or Water. These notes cover the Energy option.

1. The big picture: what is an energy resource?

An energy resource is a source of power that people can use for heating, transport, electricity, industry and everyday life.

Energy matters because modern societies depend on it. Homes need heating and lighting, factories need power, transport needs fuel, and digital technology needs electricity.

Here is the overall structure of the topic: resources feed into a country’s energy mix, which is shaped by population, wealth and resource availability.

2. Developing energy resources

To develop an energy resource means to extract, build, invest in and use it. Development can create jobs and improve energy supply, but it can also damage environments or communities.

One non-renewable resource: natural gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed from ancient organic matter. It is used for heating, electricity generation and industry.

Advantages of developing natural gas include:

• It produces less carbon dioxide than coal when burned.
• Gas power stations can be switched on quickly, helping when demand rises.
• Domestic gas production can improve energy security, meaning a reliable and affordable energy supply.
• It can create jobs, tax income and investment.

Disadvantages include:

• It is finite, so it will eventually run out.
• It still releases greenhouse gases when burned.
• Methane leaks during extraction and transport are a serious climate concern.
• Extraction can disturb landscapes and communities.

One renewable resource: wind power

Wind power uses turbines to convert moving air into electricity. The UK has strong wind resources, especially offshore in the North Sea.

Advantages include:

• Very low emissions once turbines are operating.
• No fuel cost because wind is free.
• Offshore wind can generate large amounts of electricity.
• It reduces dependence on imported fuels.

Disadvantages include:

• Wind is intermittent, meaning it does not blow all the time.
• Some people object to the visual impact of turbines.
• Turbines and cables can affect wildlife and marine ecosystems.
• The electricity grid may need expensive upgrades and storage.

3. The UK’s energy mix

The UK’s energy mix has changed a lot. Coal used to be very important, but it has almost disappeared from electricity generation. Gas, oil, nuclear and renewables now play much bigger roles.

For the UK’s total energy use, oil and natural gas remain very important because transport depends heavily on oil and many homes use gas for heating. Renewables have grown quickly, especially wind power. Nuclear provides a smaller but steady share. Coal is now very small.

For UK electricity generation, the mix is greener than total energy use: renewables often provide around 40% or more in recent years, gas remains important, nuclear contributes a significant share, and coal is near zero. Exact figures change each year, so revise the data your teacher gives you.

4. Why energy mixes vary globally

Energy resources are unevenly distributed. World maps often show clear clusters:

• Oil is especially important in the Middle East, Russia and the USA.
• Coal is abundant in countries such as China, India, Australia and the USA.
• Natural gas is important in Russia, the Middle East and North America.
• Uranium is mined in countries such as Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia.
• HEP is common where there is steep relief and reliable water, such as Norway or parts of Brazil.
• Solar power has high potential in sunny regions, including North Africa and Australia.
• Wind power is strong in exposed coastal areas, such as the UK and Denmark.

Three big factors shape a country’s energy mix:

1. Population — larger populations usually create higher total demand.
2. Wealth — richer countries often use more energy per person and can afford expensive technology.
3. Availability of resources — countries often use what they have locally, although trade and politics also matter.

5. Rising demand and changing supply

Over the last 100 years, global demand for energy has risen sharply.

This is mainly because:

• World population has grown from about 2 billion in the 1920s to over 8 billion today.
• More people live in cities and use electricity, transport and manufactured goods.
• Rising wealth has increased car ownership, air travel, heating, cooling and appliance use.
• Technology has expanded supply through deep-sea drilling, pipelines, nuclear power, fracking, large dams, wind turbines and solar panels.

Impacts of developing non-renewable resources

Non-renewable resources can support development, but they create serious environmental issues.

• Coal can provide cheap electricity and jobs, but mining damages landscapes and burning coal releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and air pollution.
• Oil is vital for transport and petrochemicals, but spills can damage ecosystems and burning oil adds to climate change.
• Natural gas is flexible and often cleaner than coal, but it still emits carbon dioxide and methane leaks are harmful.
• Uranium is used in nuclear power, which has low operating emissions, but nuclear plants are expensive and radioactive waste must be managed safely.

Impacts of developing renewable resources

Renewables reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but they are not impact-free.

• HEP can produce reliable electricity and help control floods, but dams may flood valleys, displace people and disrupt river ecosystems.
• Wind power has low emissions, but turbines can cause local opposition and wildlife concerns.
• Solar power can be used at many scales, from rooftops to solar farms, but it needs sunlight and can create land-use conflicts.

Fracking and energy shortages

Fracking can help resolve short-term energy shortages by increasing domestic gas supply. The USA’s shale gas boom is a major example of how technology can rapidly increase energy production.

However, fracking is controversial. Concerns include water use, chemical pollution, methane leaks, traffic, noise and small earthquakes. In the UK, fracking has faced strong public opposition and strict regulation.

6. Stakeholders and conflict

A stakeholder is a person, group or organisation affected by a decision. Energy decisions often create conflict because stakeholders value different things.

• Individuals may want cheap energy but oppose a wind farm, pylon route or fracking site near their home.
• Energy companies may support new extraction or power stations because they create profit and jobs.
• Environmental organisations often campaign for renewables, energy efficiency and protection of ecosystems.
• Governments try to balance energy security, cost, jobs, public opinion and climate targets.

This is why energy management is not just a technical issue. It is also political, economic and social.

7. Sustainable management of energy

Both renewable and non-renewable resources need management.

Non-renewables are finite and often polluting, so countries must reduce waste, improve efficiency and shift towards lower-carbon alternatives. Renewables also need management because dams, turbines, solar farms, batteries and transmission lines can affect communities and ecosystems.

Sustainable energy management works at several scales:

• Local — home insulation, LED lighting, public transport, rooftop solar and energy-saving behaviour.
• National — subsidies for renewables, carbon budgets, fuel taxes, planning rules and investment in the grid.
• International — climate agreements, technology transfer and cooperation over energy markets.

8. Located examples of sustainable energy management

Developed country: the UK

The UK is a high-income developed country in north-west Europe. It has tried to manage energy more sustainably by phasing out coal, expanding offshore wind, improving energy efficiency and setting a legal target for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

A key strength is the UK’s huge offshore wind potential, especially in the North Sea. A challenge is that heating and transport still rely heavily on fossil fuels, so the UK needs more home insulation, electric vehicles, low-carbon heating and grid upgrades.

Emerging or developing country: Kenya

Kenya is a developing or emerging country in East Africa. It is a strong located example because it has invested heavily in renewable energy, especially geothermal power in the Rift Valley, wind power such as the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, and solar mini-grids for rural areas.

This can improve energy access, reduce reliance on imported fuels and support economic development. However, costs, grid connections, land rights and impacts on local communities still need careful management.