Variations in energy use

Reasons for high energy consumption

Reasons for high energy consumption

• The global demand for energy is not evenly distributed

• Some countries and some regions within countries use more energy than others

  • Countries with the highest energy consumption per person tend to be HICs, including Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia

  • Countries with the lowest energy consumption per person are LICs, which are mainly in Africa and include Niger, Chad and Tanzania

• The reasons for high energy consumption vary among countries and regions, but some of the main ones include:

  • Level of development

  • Industrialisation

  • Climate

  • Population size and growth

  • Availability of energy

Level of development

• Wealthier High Income Countries (HICs) have higher average living standards this means people have more appliances and technology that require energy

• There is higher car ownership and people travel more frequently

Industry

• Countries with heavy industries such as steel production and where there are lots of factories have high energy demands

  • Rapid industrialisation in emerging economies such as China and India has led to a significant increase in energy demand in these areas

Climate

• In countries with colder climates such as Canada and Iceland more energy is required for heating

• In hotter climates such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar more energy is used for cooling

Population

• As the population rises so there are more homes, businesses and transport, which increases the demand for energy

Availability of energy

• Access to cheap, plentiful supplies of energy tends to lead people to consume more

• In countries like Saudi Arabia where there is access to large energy reserves energy is subsidised, which means that people tend to use more

Reason for low energy consumption

Reasons for low energy consumption

• The reasons for low energy consumption also vary between countries and regions, but some of the main ones include:

  • Level of development

  • Poor infrastructure

  • High energy costs

  • Climate

Level of development

• In Low Income Countries (LICs), people cannot afford to pay for energy

• A greater proportion of the population live a subsistence lifestyle which is based on farming this does not have high energy use

• People have limited access to technology and appliances, particularly in rural areas

Poor infrastructure

• Access to energy is dependent on infrastructure such as pipes and cables

  • In many LICs, electricity grids are small, unreliable and don't cover many rural areas

  • Gas pipelines and petrol/fuel stations may also be limited

High energy costs

• In countries with few energy sources, the cost of importing energy supply can be expensive, which increases prices

  • High prices lead to reduced consumption

Climate

• In temperate climates people do not need to use as much energy for heating or cooling

  • This reduces the consumption of energy in homes and businesses

Variations in energy consumption within countries

Variations in energy consumption within countries

• Urban areas usually consume more energy than rural areas

• The reasons for this include:

  • Higher population density

  • Better access to energy infrastructure

  • More transport

  • Higher use of energy for heating/cooling, entertainment and industries

• Rural areas tend to consume less energy due to:

  • Fewer industries

  • Smaller populations

  • Less infrastructure and greater reliance on biomass for heating/cooking, particularly in LICs

• Industrial and commercial areas consume more energy than residential areas

• Colder or hotter parts of countries have different heating and cooling requirements which cause variations in energy demand

  • Florida in the USA will use more energy for cooling, whereas Minnesota in the USA will use more energy for heating