Energy resources: demand, generation and decisions
Distinguish capacity from generation and compare fossil fuel, renewable and demand-management choices.
Keep power and energy separate
Power is the rate of energy transfer. Electrical energy is power accumulated through time. A generator’s rated capacity is a maximum rate under stated conditions.
Demand varies through the day and year. Reliability depends on the system, including networks, storage and sources that can respond to demand.
Worked example
A fictional 2 MW generator operating steadily for three hours produces 6 MWh. At half output over the same period it produces 3 MWh.
Common mistake: MW and MWh describe different quantities.
Compare extraction and generation
Fossil fuels provide concentrated energy but extraction and combustion affect landscapes, pollution and greenhouse gases. Renewables have different land, material and ecological effects.
Compare a stated service over a suitable lifetime. An electricity project can improve local access while also needing affordable connections and maintenance.
Worked example
A fictional household receives 4 kWh/day from a solar system while needing 6. Its recorded supply covers two-thirds of that daily amount; timing can still leave unmet needs.
Common mistake: A renewable label does not establish zero impacts or continuous supply.
Evaluate an energy strategy
Diversification, efficiency and reduced demand can change exposure to supply shocks. Building design and behaviour affect consumption; grids and storage influence flexibility.
Evaluate economic, social and environmental outcomes separately. A low cash price may omit pollution, land or reliability costs.
Worked example
Fictional electricity use falls from 5,000 to 4,000 kWh/year after insulation: 20%. If energy prices rise by 30%, the bill index is 0.8 × 1.3 = 1.04, a 4% rise.
Common mistake: Energy savings and bill savings can diverge when prices change.
Try a different resource
Percentage change
The starting year is the denominator. A negative percentage indicates a decrease.
| Year | Visitors |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2300 |
| 2025 | 2530 |
Resource description
Fictional nature reserve annual visits
Write an explanation
Check your answer
- Define energy security and the service needed.
- Use generation and access evidence, not capacity alone.
- Consider environmental costs and distribution.
- Explain demand and system reliability alongside supply.
Practise and review a written answer
Case studies
Hornsea One offshore wind · Concentrated solar power at Noor Ouarzazate · Solar home systems in Bangladesh
These pages provide selected evidence. Check the whole case requirement with your teacher.
Read further
- www.aqa.org.uk — source or course reference
- www.aqa.org.uk — source or course reference
- qualifications.pearson.com — source or course reference
- www.sqa.org.uk — source or course reference
- qualifications.pearson.com — source or course reference
- www.ocr.org.uk — source or course reference
- www.ocr.org.uk — source or course reference
- www.eduqas.co.uk — source or course reference
Power, energy and reliable supply · Adaptation to changing conditions
Course links
AQA GCSE Geography · Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography B · Higher Geography · Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A · OCR GCSE Geography A · OCR GCSE Geography B · Eduqas GCSE Geography A
Next topics
Climate change: evidence, causes and responses · Resource security: stocks, conflicts and alternative futures
Selected teaching sequence with fictional worked data. The linked case records supply bounded evidence; they do not satisfy every course case requirement.
Scottish links identify reusable parts of the topic. Scottish landforms, soil, weather and disease requirements need additional course-specific teaching.