Edexcel IGCSE Geography 复习笔记 4.3.1 Energy Demand and Production

• 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

• Energy sources are not evenly distributed across the world
• Some areas produce very little energy due to a lack of natural resources or they do not have the money to exploit the resources
• Fossil fuels are the main energy sources
• The main producers of fossil fuels for primary energy are:
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Australia
  • Middle East
• The world's largest producers are often the largest consumers of energy

• An energy gap is when a country cannot meet the demand for energy using its own resources
• When countries have an energy gap, they have to import energy to meet the demand
• Having an energy gap means that a country is not energy secure
• To be energy secure a country needs an:
  • Uninterrupted supply of energy
  • Affordable supply
  • Accessible supply
• The UK has a widening energy gap and is not energy secure because:
  • Renewable energy is not as efficient and so cannot replace in full energy from fossil fuels
  • It is cheaper to import fossil fuels than it is to exploit the resources in the UK
• The commitment of many countries to tackling climate change and reducing the use of fossil fuels has increased energy insecurity for many countries
• Energy security can also be affected by:
  • Energy sources running out
  • War/conflict
  • Natural hazards
  • Political disputes

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