P1 N) Trends in Energy Use & Resources
During the 20th century, electricity demand in the UK increased because of population growth and an increase in the number of electrical appliances that each individual/ household owned.
During the 21st century, electricity demand in the UK decreased because devices became more efficient (the devices wasted less energy). For example, most households have energy efficient light bulbs that require less energy. Also, individuals/ households have become more careful with how they use electricity in their homes (such as turning devices off rather than leaving them on standby).
The UK gets the majority of its energy from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used for both electricity generation and for transportation (petrol and diesel for cars). Fossil fuels are used in such large quantities because they are cost-effective/ cheap, reliable and quick to generate electricity.
However, the burning of these fossil fuels produces large quantities of greenhouse gases, which leads to climate change and the enhanced greenhouse effect. The burning of fossil fuels also produces sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain and respiratory issues if sulfur dioxide is breathed in. Also, fossil fuels are non-renewable, which means that one day they will run out. These negative effects of burning fossil fuels has caused the UK and other countries around the world to set themselves targets to decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and move towards renewable energy sources; countries have also signed international agreements to cut greenhouse gas emissions. By 2030, the UK government wants to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 68% (based on 1990 levels). It will cost the UK government and other governments huge quantities of money to reach their climate goals because they will need to replace old technologies with new technologies. This cost will be picked up by the citizens of a country through higher taxes or higher bills as businesses pass on the increased costs to the consumer. This is why some countries are cautious about setting themselves too ambitious climate goals. There will also be questions about where to put the renewable energy sources; where do we build the new wind turbines, hydroelectric power station etc. Also, most renewable energy sources are less reliable than traditional non-renewable energy sources. This means that countries will need to have a variety of different energy sources, or invest in research to increase the reliability of renewables, or find ways to store the generated energy (such as batteries).
A final way that energy use has changed is by consumers making personal choices to decrease their use of non-renewable energy sources. For example, some individuals have purchased electric or hybrid cars, which use no/ less fossil fuels and therefore produce less carbon dioxide (a hybrid car is powered by both petrol and electric). However, these cars are quite expensive, which means that most individuals won’t be able to afford to change their car to an electric or hybrid car. Also, some individuals have put solar cells/ panels on the roof of their homes to generate electricity or heat water. The cost of installing the solar cells/ panels is quite expensive, which also means that most households will not be able to afford to/ want to do it.