Strategies to increase energy supplies (Cambridge International IGCSE Geography)

Specification link

This page covers section 10.6.2 and 10.6.3 of the CIE IGCSE specification .

• 10.6.2-The strategies and techniques used to increase energy supplies.
• 10.6.3- An evaluation of the strategies and techniques used to manage energy supplies; including sustainable.

Increasing energy supplies

Spec point — The strategies and techniques used to increase energy supplies

• Due to the increasing demand for energy, all countries need to ensure that they have sufficient energy to meet the demand

• There are three main strategies to increase energy supplies:

  1. Increase the use of renewable energy
  2. Continue to exploit fossil fuels
  3. Further develop the use of nuclear fuel

• Each of these strategies varies in its effectiveness

Effectiveness of strategies to increase energy supplies

Spec point — An evaluation of the strategies and techniques used to manage energy supplies; including sustainable.

• The strategies used to increase energy supplies vary between countries
• The choices governments make depend on the resources and finances available
• Sustainability is increasingly important
• This may be environmental sustainability but could also be economic or social sustainability

Increase the use of renewable energy

Advantages

• Sustainability: Renewable energy sources will not run out; they are infinite
• Environmental benefits: Significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels
• Energy security: Reduces dependency on imported fuels, as renewable resources are locally available
• Job Creation: Expanding industries like solar and wind energy create many new jobs

Disadvantages

• Reliability: Some renewables (e.g., solar, wind) are not always available, requiring energy storage
• High costs: Setting up renewable energy infrastructure can be expensive
• Land Use: Large-scale renewable projects (like solar farms or wind farms) require significant land, potentially leading to habitat disruption
• Technological Challenges: Energy storage technologies (like batteries) are still developing

Continue to exploit fossil fuels

Advantages

• Existing infrastructure: Systems are already in place for extraction, refining, and distribution
• High energy density: Fossil fuels provide a lot of energy relative to their volume or mass
• Reliability: Fossil fuel power plants provide a consistent and controllable energy supply
• Economic importance: Fossil fuel industries contribute significantly to many economies

Disadvantages

• Environmental damage: Major contributor to air pollution, oil spills, and habitat destruction
• Climate change: Burning fossil fuels is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions
• Finite Resource: Fossil fuels are non-renewable and will eventually run out
• Geopolitical tensions: Fossil fuel resources can create or exacerbate international conflicts over access and control

Further develop the use of nuclear fuel

Advantages

• Low greenhouse gas emissions: Once built, nuclear plants emit minimal CO₂ compared to fossil fuel plants
• High energy output: Nuclear fuel produces a very high amount of energy from a small amount of fuel
• Reliability: Nuclear power plants can run consistently, unlike intermittent renewable sources
• Energy security: Reduces dependence on fossil fuels, improving national energy autonomy

Disadvantages

• Nuclear accidents: Disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima mean that people do not trust the safety of nuclear energy
• Radioactive waste: Long-term storage of nuclear waste is expensive and difficult, as it takes a long time to decay and become safe
• High costs: Building nuclear power plants is costly and takes many years. Decommissioning plants is also expensive
• Public opposition: There is significant public fear about nuclear energy development due to health risks and links to cancer

Exam Hint When considering the effectiveness of strategies to increase energy supplies, it is important to not simply dismiss non-renewable energy sources because they contribute the most greenhouse gases.

In some countries, they may be seen as more sustainable because they are a local resource that is used efficiently, the infrastructure is already in place, they contribute to the economy, and they do not need to be imported.