6.4.2 Factors Contributing to Energy Supply

What affects energy supply?

• Energy supply varies around the world due to several factors.

Energy Supply, Delivery, and Demand

Physical Factors

• Climate and Geography:
  • Affects potential for solar, wind, tidal, HEP, and wave power.
• Natural Disasters:
  • Can damage infrastructure and affect energy development.

• Fossil Fuels Distribution:
  • Unequal distribution globally; some countries have more than others.
  • Some may run out quicker; others are more accessible.

Economic Factors

• Fossil Fuel Prices:

  • Volatile and can fluctuate due to availability or conflict.

• Infrastructure Costs:

  • Building new infrastructure (power stations, wind farms) can be very high.

• Resource Accessibility:

  • Some LICs have resources but lack funds to exploit them.

• Scarcity:

  • Fossil fuels are becoming scarce and more expensive to extract.

Technological Factors

• Oil Reserves:
  • Some trapped in rocks needing specialist technology.
• Exploitation Technology:
  • Some countries lack technology to exploit resources (e.g., uranium in Niger).

Political Factors

• International Agreements:

  • Climate change agreements to cut greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., Kyoto Protocol).

• Wars and Instability:

  • Affects ability to export resources (e.g., Gulf War).

• Safety Concerns:

  • Nuclear power and waste disposal have become harder due to regulations.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Fossil fuels have traditionally supplied most of our energy, but the supply will eventually run out.

Fossil Fuels

• Formed from organic matter millions of years ago (coal, gas, oil).
• Still abundant, but limited.
• Important despite CO2 levels increasing.
• Carbon capture can reduce environmental impact.

Nuclear Power

• Expensive to build power stations.
• Raw material uranium is low cost due to small usage.
• Dangerous waste and disasters (e.g., Fukushima in 2011).

Non-Renewable Sources of Energy