Students often state that renewable energy sources make a country less secure because they are intermittent. In reality, renewables increase security because they diversify the energy mix and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
When asked to 'Explain' increasing consumption, you must explicitly use a causal chain rather than just listing facts. For example: 'Economic development leads to higher wealth, which leads to the purchase of domestic appliances, which increases total electricity demand.'
In 'Analyse' questions regarding energy insecurity, always try to categorise the impacts into Social (e.g., energy poverty), Economic (e.g., loss of GDP from blackouts), and Environmental (e.g., pollution from cheap fuels) to guarantee broad mark scheme coverage.
Energy surplus
When the energy available in a country exceeds the demand from its population and industry, allowing for export.
Energy deficit
When a country's energy demand exceeds its internal production, forcing it to rely on imported energy.
Energy gap
The numerical difference between a country's energy demand and its ability to produce that energy from its own resources.
Industrialisation
The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods.
Urbanisation
The increasing proportion of people living in built-up urban environments such as towns and cities.
Insolation
The amount of solar radiation (sunlight) reaching a given area, determining the viability of solar power.
Morphology
The shape, layout, and relief of a landscape, which heavily influences the potential for hydroelectric power.
Fracking
A technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock by pumping high-pressure fluid into the ground to create cracks.
Energy mix
The specific combination of different energy sources (fossil fuels, renewables, nuclear) a country uses to meet its energy consumption needs.
Energy insecurity
A state where a country cannot meet its energy needs reliably or affordably, leading to economic and social disruptions.
Energy poverty
A lack of access to modern energy services, forcing households to rely on traditional, often polluting, biomass fuels like wood.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Geography
Energy surplus
When the energy available in a country exceeds the demand from its population and industry, allowing for export.
Energy deficit
When a country's energy demand exceeds its internal production, forcing it to rely on imported energy.
Energy gap
The numerical difference between a country's energy demand and its ability to produce that energy from its own resources.
Industrialisation
The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods.
Urbanisation
The increasing proportion of people living in built-up urban environments such as towns and cities.
Insolation
The amount of solar radiation (sunlight) reaching a given area, determining the viability of solar power.
Morphology
The shape, layout, and relief of a landscape, which heavily influences the potential for hydroelectric power.
Fracking
A technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock by pumping high-pressure fluid into the ground to create cracks.
Energy mix
The specific combination of different energy sources (fossil fuels, renewables, nuclear) a country uses to meet its energy consumption needs.
Energy insecurity
A state where a country cannot meet its energy needs reliably or affordably, leading to economic and social disruptions.
Energy poverty
A lack of access to modern energy services, forcing households to rely on traditional, often polluting, biomass fuels like wood.