Energy Sources: Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Revision Notes | GCSE AQA Higher Geography

1. Why Energy Sources Matter

Every time you charge a phone, heat a room, or travel by car, you are drawing on an energy source. The question geographers ask is: where does that energy come from, and what are the consequences? The answer shapes economies, environments, and the climate.

At the heart of this topic is a fundamental divide: some sources will eventually run out, and some will not. Getting that distinction right — and knowing the examples — is the foundation for every exam question on this topic.

2. Renewable and Non-Renewable Sources

Each renewable type works differently. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells. Wind turbines capture kinetic energy from moving air. Hydroelectric power (HEP) uses the gravitational potential energy of water flowing downhill through a dam. Tidal power harnesses the predictable rise and fall of sea levels. Wave energy captures the motion of surface waves. Geothermal energy taps heat from within the Earth's crust. Biomass burns organic material — wood, crop waste, or purpose-grown energy crops — to release stored chemical energy.

A key advantage shared by most renewables is that they produce little or no carbon dioxide during operation. However, they often depend on specific geographical conditions: geothermal energy is only viable near tectonic boundaries or volcanic hotspots, and tidal power requires a large tidal range, such as the Severn Estuary in the UK.

Fossil fuels release energy by combustion, producing carbon dioxide and contributing to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Nuclear power is different: it generates electricity through fission (splitting uranium atoms) and produces no direct CO2 emissions during operation, but it does generate radioactive waste that must be stored safely for thousands of years.

A common point of confusion is whether nuclear power counts as renewable. It does not — uranium is a finite resource extracted by mining. However, because it produces no operational CO2, it is sometimes grouped with low-carbon sources in policy discussions. For AQA, classify it firmly as non-renewable.

3. Fossil Fuel Extraction: Advantages and Disadvantages

Now that you can classify energy sources, the next step is to evaluate one in depth. AQA requires you to know a specific example showing how fossil fuel extraction has both advantages and disadvantages. Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) for shale gas in the UK provides a well-documented case.

Fracking involves drilling deep into shale rock and injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals to fracture the rock and release trapped natural gas. The UK has significant shale gas reserves, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Cuadrilla Resources conducted exploratory fracking at Preston New Road, Lancashire, between 2018 and 2019 before operations were suspended following induced seismic activity.

Notice the pattern: the advantages are largely economic and energy-security focused, while the disadvantages span environmental, social, and long-term sustainability concerns. In an exam 'assess' or 'evaluate' question, you need to weigh both sides before reaching a judgement.

4. Individual Energy Use and Carbon Footprints

The fossil fuel debate connects directly to something more personal: your own carbon footprint. A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual's activities — heating a home, travelling, buying food, and using electricity all contribute.

High-income countries tend to have larger per-capita carbon footprints because people consume more energy-intensive goods and services. In the UK, the average person's carbon footprint is around 10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year [VERIFY current figure], though this varies significantly by lifestyle choices such as diet, travel habits, and home energy use.

Reducing carbon footprints requires action at two scales: individual behaviour change and systemic redesign of homes, workplaces, and transport. AQA groups these under the heading of energy conservation.

4a. Designing for Sustainability

Buildings account for a large share of energy consumption. Sustainable home design reduces this through insulation (loft, cavity wall, and underfloor), double or triple glazing, and south-facing windows to maximise passive solar gain. Green roofs and living walls can also reduce heat loss and manage rainwater.

Workplaces can be designed with smart lighting systems that switch off automatically, energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, and on-site renewable generation such as rooftop solar panels. Transport sustainability focuses on electric vehicles (EVs), cycling infrastructure, and public transport investment — all of which reduce reliance on petrol and diesel.

4b. Technology to Increase Efficiency

Efficiency means getting more useful output from the same amount of fuel. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, for example, capture waste heat from electricity generation and use it to warm buildings — something conventional power stations do not do. Smart meters allow households to monitor real-time energy use and shift consumption to off-peak periods when electricity generation is cheaper and often lower-carbon.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that traps CO2 from fossil fuel power stations before it enters the atmosphere and stores it underground. It does not eliminate fossil fuel use but reduces its climate impact by preventing greenhouse gases from reaching the atmosphere. Unlike efficiency technologies such as CHP, CCS does not increase the useful energy output from fuel — instead, it is best understood as a carbon mitigation technology that addresses the environmental consequences of burning fossil fuels. AQA expects you to know that technology can reduce the climate impact of fossil fuel use — CCS is a clear example of this principle.

5. Strategies to Increase Energy Supply

Reducing demand is one side of the energy equation. The other is increasing supply. Countries use a range of strategies, and no single approach works for every context — geography, wealth, and political priorities all shape the choices made.

• Expanding renewable capacity: building more wind farms (onshore and offshore), solar farms, and tidal barrages to diversify the energy mix
• Investing in nuclear power: constructing new nuclear power stations (for example Hinkley Point C in Somerset, UK) to provide reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity
• Exploiting new fossil fuel reserves: using fracking or deep-sea drilling to access previously unreachable reserves, increasing short-term supply
• Importing energy: purchasing electricity or gas from neighbouring countries via interconnectors or pipelines, improving energy security without domestic extraction
• Developing smart grids: upgrading electricity networks to balance supply and demand more efficiently, reducing waste and integrating variable renewables
• Microgeneration: encouraging households and businesses to generate their own electricity through solar panels or small wind turbines, reducing pressure on the national grid

Each strategy involves trade-offs. Expanding renewables reduces carbon emissions but requires large land areas and significant upfront investment. Nuclear provides reliable power but carries concerns about waste disposal and high construction costs. Fossil fuel exploitation maintains energy security in the short term but conflicts with climate targets. A balanced energy mix — combining several strategies — is generally considered the most resilient approach.

Worked example: How to Answer a 9-Mark 'Assess' Question on Energy Strategies

Assess the extent to which renewable energy sources are the best strategy for increasing energy supply. [9 marks]

1. Command word: 'Assess' — requires weighing up evidence on both sides before reaching a supported judgement. — In AQA GCSE Geography, 'assess' and 'evaluate' both require a balanced argument with a conclusion. Do not describe only — you must judge.
2. Renewable sources such as wind and solar produce no operational CO2, helping countries meet climate targets. The UK's offshore wind capacity has grown significantly, providing a growing share of national electricity generation [VERIFY current percentage]. — Use a named place and a specific outcome. This earns Level 2 marks by explaining the causal link between renewable expansion and emissions reduction.
3. However, renewables are intermittent — solar panels generate no power at night and wind turbines are idle in calm weather. This means they cannot guarantee baseload supply without expensive energy storage solutions. — A genuine limitation, not just a counter-argument. This shows geographical understanding of supply reliability — a key concept in energy security.
4. Nuclear power, such as the planned Hinkley Point C station in Somerset, provides reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity regardless of weather conditions. However, construction costs are very high and waste disposal remains a long-term challenge. — Comparing an alternative strategy shows you understand that 'best' depends on context — reliability, cost, and environmental impact all matter.
5. Overall, renewables are an important strategy but are not sufficient alone. A mixed energy strategy — combining renewables for low-carbon generation with nuclear for reliable baseload and demand-reduction measures — is more effective than any single approach. — The conclusion must directly answer the question ('to what extent') and be supported by the evidence in your paragraphs. This is what secures Level 3 marks.

Answer: Renewables are a vital part of increasing energy supply sustainably, but their intermittency means they cannot be the only strategy. A mixed approach combining renewables, nuclear, and energy efficiency measures provides the most reliable and low-carbon solution overall.

6. Exam Technique: Winning Marks on Energy Questions

Energy questions on Paper 2 can use a range of command words. The most common traps are writing only about one side of an argument when the question asks you to 'assess' or 'evaluate', and giving vague case study evidence without named places or specific outcomes.

Across this lesson, you have moved from classifying energy sources, through evaluating fossil fuel extraction, to understanding how individual choices and large-scale strategies connect. The thread running through all of it is the tension between meeting growing energy demand and reducing environmental impact — which is exactly the kind of geographical tension AQA expects you to evaluate with evidence and judgement.