Energy security

Energy surplus and deficit

is having a reliable, affordable supply of energy. is when supply is unreliable or too expensive.

Countries with an produce more than they use, such as Saudi Arabia and Norway, which export oil and gas.
Countries with an use more than they produce, and must import energy, such as Japan.

Use is very uneven: people in HICs use far more energy each than people in LICs. According to the International Energy Agency, 730 million people had no electricity in 2024, and eight in ten of them lived in sub-Saharan Africa.

Key terms

Why consumption is rising

as countries develop, they build more factories, offices and homes, all needing energy.
Rising incomes: people buy cars, air conditioning, fridges and computers, and travel more.
Population growth: more people need more energy.
Technology: new devices and data centres use more electricity, even as many become more efficient.

The fastest rises are in , such as China and India, as their economies grow.

Key terms

What affects energy supply

Physical factors: the decides where coal, oil and gas are found; the climate decides where wind, solar and hydroelectric power work well.
Cost of exploitation: oil and gas under deep seas or in remote areas are expensive to reach.
Technology: new methods, such as fracking, make some resources possible to use; others, such as wave power, are still developing.
Political factors: conflict, and decisions by governments, affect supplies and prices. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, gas prices rose sharply across Europe.

Key terms

The impacts of energy insecurity

Exploring difficult areas: companies look for oil and gas in the Arctic, deep oceans and fragile environments.
Environmental costs: extracting fuels from difficult places risks oil spills, pollution and damage to habitats.
Food production: farms need fuel for machines and fertiliser; land may be used to grow instead of food.
Industrial output: power cuts and high prices hold back factories and jobs.
Conflict: countries may compete for energy resources.
Rising prices: families struggle to heat their homes, called .

Exam tip

Use a real example for each impact.

Key terms

Exam practice

Plan your own answer first, then open the model answers to see what each level looks like.

6 marks · about 6 minutes

Explain the impacts of energy insecurity.

Explain means: Give the reasons why something happens, developing each point with "because" or "so".

Level 1 (Basic)· 2/6 marks (band 1–2)

If there isn't enough energy, prices go up. People can't heat their homes.

Why this level: One impact, simply stated. To reach Level 2: explain several impacts, on the economy, the environment and people.

Level 2 (Clear)· 4/6 marks (band 3–4)

Energy insecurity means companies look for oil and gas in difficult places, such as the Arctic, which risks oil spills. Power cuts and high prices hold back factories and jobs. When prices rose in Europe in 2022, many families struggled to heat their homes.

Why this level: Clear environmental, economic and social impacts. To reach Level 3: develop more impacts, such as on food production and conflict, with more detail.

Level 3 (Detailed)· 6/6 marks (band 5–6)

Energy insecurity has environmental, economic and social impacts. Companies look for oil and gas in difficult and fragile places, such as the Arctic and deep oceans, risking oil spills and damage to habitats. Food production is affected: farms need fuel and fertiliser, so costs rise, and land may be used to grow biofuels instead of food. Industry suffers, because power cuts and high prices hold back factories and jobs. Countries may compete or even come into conflict over energy resources. When prices rise, as in Europe in 2022, families struggle to heat their homes, and the poorest are hit hardest.

Why this level: Detailed explanation of a range of impacts, each developed. This is Level 3.

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