The UK Energy Mix

1. The UK Energy Mix

2. The ‘energy mix’ of a country is the proportional make-up of different types of energy A countries energy mix is determined by: a) Political factors b) Economic factors c) Physical factors Colour code each factor and then once you have written up the UK energy mix shade the various explanations

3. Total Energy Consumption - Relatively high due to levels of consumerism, affluence and industrialisation UK Energy Mix • Nuclear Energy (non-renewable) • UK has invested heavily into 10 nuclear power stations in 2010 • Relatively clean and very efficient there allows us meet Kyoto Protocol at the same time as meeting economic needs • Coal • UK has seen a rapid decline in coal use since the Industrial Rev. • i. Scarring of landscape • ii. Physical reserves have been exhausted • iii. V. polluting & health issues • Renewable Sources • - Rapid growth in renewable’s due to increased international pressures (Kyoto Protocol  5.2% reduction in CO2 and fears of Global Warming • Plus a more diverse Energy mix is more stable economically in an era of ‘Peak Oil’ fears • UK has the greatest wind and tidal potential in the world • but v.low because they are costly + inefficient • Oil & Natural Gas • High % use due to the large physial reserves in the North Sea • Oil + gas are v.efficient and drive our oil based economy and are cleaner than coal

4. India’s & Sweden’s Energy Mix Your task is to complete a write-up on the variations between these energy mix’s Consider the economic, political and physical reasons for the variations in the Energy Mix’s of India and Sweden. You will need to consider the following: - The economy of the country (level of development) - Political situation and stability of the country especially for nuclear - Which renewable’s have more potential and the physical reasons for this - What type of society it is, rural or urban & appropriate technology