Classifying & uneven access to energy resources
Classifying energy resources
We can classify energy resources as non-renewable, renewable and recyclable:
Non-renewable resources (like fossil fuels) have fueled economic development since the industrial revolution, whilst
causing significant environmental damage. Over 86% of the world’s energy resources come from fossil fuels like coal, oil
and gas. Non-renewable resources are finite/stock resources as no more are being created and they will eventually run out.
Renewable energy resources are energy sources that will never run out such as wind, solar, tidal and geothermal and
hydroelectric power. These are known as flow resources. But only 9.3% of the worlds energy is created using them
Recyclable energy resources can be reused into the future such as biofuels and nuclear power (where the uranium fuel is
reprocessed and used again)
Overtime, the world’s energy demand had increased, and the balance of energy types has changed
The distribution of energy resources
Accessibility to energy resources across the world are uneven. Countries that have fossil fuel reserves have become very wealthy
and dominate the energy supply. The main factors affecting uneven distribution in energy:
Geology Relief & Climate
-Sedimentary rocks contain most of the world’s fossil fuels. The Middle -Regions with high rainfall and suitable relief
Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran (2012) have 48% of the are often good locations for HEP as a large
world’s oil and 43% of gas reserves. Coal is widely distributed around the volume of water is needed, and steep sided
world but most of the reserves are in Russia, USA and China valleys are often chosen for dam construction
-Geothermal energy is generally only accessible in areas close to plate -Climatic conditions are also important to
boundaries e.g New Zealand and Iceland. The volcanic activity creates heat harness the potential of wind and solar power.
stored in magma beneath the Earth’s surface, creating a natural geothermal Areas exposed to high winds are good for wind
system which can be used to heat water and generate electricity farms and places that receive long hours of
sunshine are good for solar farms
Accessibility & Development
-How economically developed a region is influences its ability to invest in new technologies and develop resources.
-Some resources are in remote regions making them expensive to exploit e.g. many African regions have large reserves of oil
but these are expensive to exploit.
-Many developing and emerging countries use biomass for energy
-Population growth in the last 100yrs as well as rising
Global patterns of energy use incomes has increased the demand for energy.
Variations in energy use -It is expected that an extra 1.6 billion people will
Economic development need energy by 2035, demand will also grow as
-For countries to develop economically energy is vital for industry, countries can become more economically developed
transport, IT and heating/cooling buildings.
Impact that extracting energy have on the
-The countries with the highest demand for energy are developed
environment
countries so they are able to invest in technology. This investment
-One of humans’ biggest and most significant
creates new opportunities for energy supplies from renewable &
impacts on the environment is extracting and using
recyclable sources as well as other non-renewable sources e.g fracking.
energy
-But developing countries have limited access to energy resources as
-The impacts can vary by scale such as locally in
well as poor distribution systems and this restricts economic growth
terms of aesthetics, regional like air pollution and
Economic sectors
globally with the rising threat of climate change
-With a changing economy and technology, they type of energy use
changes. Most energy in developed countries is for transport and
little energy is used for farming
-In contrast, developing/emerging countries use most of their
energy for industries and farming
Traditional fuel sources
-Traditional biomass fuels are used for domestic use in many rural
areas in developing countries e.g in Sub-Saharan Africa there is no
direct electricity source and in urban areas the supply can be
inconsistent
-Although Africa is rich in fuel sources access to them is limited,
over 700 million people still cook over open fires.
Classifying energy resources
We can classify energy resources as non-renewable, renewable and recyclable:
Non-renewable resources (like fossil fuels) have fueled economic development since the industrial revolution, whilst
causing significant environmental damage. Over 86% of the world’s energy resources come from fossil fuels like coal, oil
and gas. Non-renewable resources are finite/stock resources as no more are being created and they will eventually run out.
Renewable energy resources are energy sources that will never run out such as wind, solar, tidal and geothermal and
hydroelectric power. These are known as flow resources. But only 9.3% of the worlds energy is created using them
Recyclable energy resources can be reused into the future such as biofuels and nuclear power (where the uranium fuel is
reprocessed and used again)
Overtime, the world’s energy demand had increased, and the balance of energy types has changed
The distribution of energy resources
Accessibility to energy resources across the world are uneven. Countries that have fossil fuel reserves have become very wealthy
and dominate the energy supply. The main factors affecting uneven distribution in energy:
Geology Relief & Climate
-Sedimentary rocks contain most of the world’s fossil fuels. The Middle -Regions with high rainfall and suitable relief
Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran (2012) have 48% of the are often good locations for HEP as a large
world’s oil and 43% of gas reserves. Coal is widely distributed around the volume of water is needed, and steep sided
world but most of the reserves are in Russia, USA and China valleys are often chosen for dam construction
-Geothermal energy is generally only accessible in areas close to plate -Climatic conditions are also important to
boundaries e.g New Zealand and Iceland. The volcanic activity creates heat harness the potential of wind and solar power.
stored in magma beneath the Earth’s surface, creating a natural geothermal Areas exposed to high winds are good for wind
system which can be used to heat water and generate electricity farms and places that receive long hours of
sunshine are good for solar farms
Accessibility & Development
-How economically developed a region is influences its ability to invest in new technologies and develop resources.
-Some resources are in remote regions making them expensive to exploit e.g. many African regions have large reserves of oil
but these are expensive to exploit.
-Many developing and emerging countries use biomass for energy
-Population growth in the last 100yrs as well as rising
Global patterns of energy use incomes has increased the demand for energy.
Variations in energy use -It is expected that an extra 1.6 billion people will
Economic development need energy by 2035, demand will also grow as
-For countries to develop economically energy is vital for industry, countries can become more economically developed
transport, IT and heating/cooling buildings.
Impact that extracting energy have on the
-The countries with the highest demand for energy are developed
environment
countries so they are able to invest in technology. This investment
-One of humans’ biggest and most significant
creates new opportunities for energy supplies from renewable &
impacts on the environment is extracting and using
recyclable sources as well as other non-renewable sources e.g fracking.
energy
-But developing countries have limited access to energy resources as
-The impacts can vary by scale such as locally in
well as poor distribution systems and this restricts economic growth
terms of aesthetics, regional like air pollution and
Economic sectors
globally with the rising threat of climate change
-With a changing economy and technology, they type of energy use
changes. Most energy in developed countries is for transport and
little energy is used for farming
-In contrast, developing/emerging countries use most of their
energy for industries and farming
Traditional fuel sources
-Traditional biomass fuels are used for domestic use in many rural
areas in developing countries e.g in Sub-Saharan Africa there is no
direct electricity source and in urban areas the supply can be
inconsistent
-Although Africa is rich in fuel sources access to them is limited,
over 700 million people still cook over open fires.
