Case Study → Renewable & Recyclable Energy - Changing UK Energy Mix (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

Case Study → Renewable & Recyclable Energy - Changing UK Energy Mix

Context	● UK gov v mindful of the need to become energy secure & to play a part in reducing global carbon emissions
Trends • Primary Energy	● There has been a complete shift away from a direct use of coal, the reliance on oil & natural gas seems to have settled at a rather high level, providing approx 80% of the UK's primary energy ● Most of the petroleum is used by transport & most of the natural gas is used to generate electricity ○ Forecasts suggests this is unlikely to change much in the near future ● Some electricity is still generated by coal-fired power stations, while oil has virtually ceased to be used in this way
Renewables	● Natural gas still provides far more electricity than nuclear energy ● The contribution by renewables still remains disappointingly small

| Energy
Consumption | ● Today, less energy is consumed than in 1970, despite the population ↑ of 6.5 million
● The UK is now more efficient, both in producing energy and in using it
● The rise of a less-energy intensive service sector at the expense of industry has also
played a sig part
● Households now use 12% less energy while industry uses 60% less
○ BUT these savings have been offset by transport, particularly the big ↑ in
the number of vehicles on the roads and of flights |

•                                                      The changing UK energy mix *