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7.2 Energy sources — uses and management

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Guiding questions

  • To what extent can energy consumption be equitable across the world?
  • How can energy production be sustainable?

SL and HL knowledge statements

7.2.1 Energy sources are both renewable and non-renewable.

7.2.2 Global energy consumption is rising with increasing population and with per capita demand.

7.2.3 The sustainability of energy sources varies significantly.

7.2.4 A variety of factors will affect the energy choices that a country makes.

The price of electricity affects choices about energy sources.
Nuclear energy has seen booms and busts that are connected to and impacted by environmental, economic, and political factors.

7.2.5 Intermittent energy production from some renewable sources creates the need for energy storage systems.

7.2.6 Energy conservation and energy efficiency may allow a country to be less dependent on importing a resource.

Knowledge statements for HL only

7.2.7 Energy security for a country means access to affordable and reliable sources of energy.

7.2.8 The global economy mostly depends on finite reserves of fossil fuels as energy sources; these include coal, oil and natural gas.

7.2.9 Nuclear power is a non-renewable, low-carbon means of electricity production.

7.2.10 Battery storage is required on a large scale to meet global requirements for reduction of carbon emissions, but it requires mining, transporting, processing and construction, all of which produce emissions and pollution, and cause sociopolitical tensions.

Practical activities

  1. Practical 7.2.3 – Use secondary data to evaluate the sustainability of two contrasting energy sources.
  2. HL Practical 7.2.7 – Analyse graphs showing how use of energy sources changes over time, both globally and by country.
  3. Add from existing PSOW booklet.

Possible engagement opportunities

  • Turn these into CAS activities connected to the UN SDGs.
  • Evaluate use of energy and consider whether it should be reduced individually, in the school and in the community. Consider how this reduction could occur.
  • Carry out a school survey or use questionnaires to see if energy use can be reduced.
  • Consider personal perspectives on using nuclear power, relating to personal environmental value systems.

Happy learning!