This document discusses human use of energy resources. It begins by explaining that all energy on Earth ultimately comes from the sun. Energy resources are classified as either renewable (e.g. solar, wind) or non-renewable (e.g. fossil fuels, nuclear). The document then evaluates factors like economics, environment, and social impacts that must be considered when assessing different energy options. It provides examples by discussing advantages and disadvantages of oil and solar power. Finally, it examines how availability, costs, technology, and politics influence a nation like France's choice of energy resources over time.

1. 3.3 Energy resources
Topic 3: Human population, carrying capacity and resource
use

2. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.1: Available Energy Resources
All energy on the planet
comes either directly or Simplified view of
Energy Pathways Solar
Radiation
Light reflected
indirectly from the sun
from atmosphere
Green House Effect
Atmosphere
Energy
released as
"IR" (HEAT)
Light absorbed Light absorbed
by plants by surfaces
Particles gain
energy and move
Photosynthesis more rapidly
"DRIVES" "DRIVES"
Biological Physical
Processes Processes
Life Processes
Food chains Atmospheric circulation
Eventual dissipation Oceanic currents
as heat
Water cycle
Fossilisation
"energy sink"

3. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.1: Available Energy Resources
Energy resources can be classified as either:
Renewable or
Non renewable

4. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.1: Available Energy Resources
Non renewable energy resources:
Fossil fuels - oil, natural gas and coal
Nuclear energy

5. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.1: Available Energy Resources
Renewable energy
resources:
Wind. Biomass.
Wave. Hydroelectric.
Solar. Geothermal.

6. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.1: Available Energy Resources
Global energy use
Energy source Approximate
global usage
(%)
Non- renewable Oil 38
Coal 25
Natural Gas 22
Uranium 5
Renewable Biomass (wood) 3
Hydroelectric 3
Wind 2
Solar 2
Wave 2

7. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.2: Evaluating Energy Resources
Advantages and disadvantages of a particular energy
resource can be group into three broad areas:
Economic
Environmental
Social

8. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.2: Evaluating Energy Resources
Pathways of Soil Erosion in the Sahel
Increasing
population
Economic, Environmental and Social More food
required
factors for any resources changes with the More
More fuel
Increased
context in which the resource is used.
needed for
livestock grazing
cooking
More fuel
Increased Deforestation
needed for
grazing
Using wood as the main fuel source for
for firewood
cooking
cooking may not have a major impact in a Removal of
vegetation
heavily forested scandinavian country but Soil exposed
to wind and
in saharan Africa it would
water
Top soil can
blow away
SOIL EROSION

9. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.2: Evaluating Energy Resources
Oil- Advantages
Extraction technology is Large oil reserves still
well developed exist
Can be Oil provides more ethan
transported relatively ch just an energy source -
eaply and in large e.g. Plastics
amounts
Efficient energy source

10. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.2: Evaluating Energy Resources
Oil- Disadvantages
Most of the worlds oil reserves Accidents in extraction and
tend to be where consumption is transport can lead to pollution
low and not spread evenly around causing habitat destruction
the planet
Expense of dealing with pollution
Combustion of oil leads to
climate change through the As supply is used up newer supply
release of carbon dioxide sources are more difficult to
extract due to where they are
(Arctic) or the form in which the
oil exists (shale tar)

11. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.2: Evaluating Energy Resources
Solar power - Advantages
Sunlight is free Can operate on small scale
as well as large
Does not produce green
house gases
When used for heating well
insulated houses can be
cheaper than coal or oil

12. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.2: Evaluating Energy Resources
Solar power - Disadvantages
Only useful were sunlight is Aesthetically problematic in
plentiful - not very effective rural areas
during Northern
Hemisphere winter Technology still expensive
Takes up a lot of space for
commercial solar harvesting

13. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
The choice of energy sources that a nation or society
uses is very much dependent upon several factors:
Availability Historical use
Cost Industrial need
Technology National politics

14. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
France is a good example of a Nation whose
energy policy has changed over time.
Energy use in France is mainly for the
commercial production of electricity and fuel
for homes and transport

15. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
Traditionally Frances main energy
requirements were filled by coal
Mainly from the French Coal fields in Alsace,
Lorraine and Nord Pas de Calais

16. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
Increasing coast of production resulted in
France looking for alternatives to coal
Unlike the UK or Norway France has no oil
reserves of its own, so if coal was replaced
with oil national energy security would be
dependent upon an imported energy resource

17. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
The answer for France was to invest heavily in
Nuclear power
75% of all France’s energy needs are met by Nuclear
power
France produces so much electricity from Nuclear
power that it exports 18% of its production

18. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
Nuclear Reactors in France

19. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
Golfech Nuclear Reactor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26106240@N06/2909771892/lightbox/

20. Topic 3: Human population, carrying
capacity and resource use
3.3: Energy resources
3.3.3: Choice of Energy Resources
Following the Fukushima Nuclear
Accident in 2011, concerns have been
raised over the safety of Nuclear
power.
Partly because of this France has
increased its development of alternative
energy sources.