AP® Environmental Science review sheet from Aim for Five (aimforfive.com/enviro/units/6/6-4)
Unit 6 · Topic 6.4
6.4 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources
Energy resources are not spread evenly across the planet. Oil, gas, coal and uranium sit in particular rock formations, and good sites for solar, wind, geothermal and hydro power depend on climate and geology, so geography largely decides what energy a region can use and whether it has to import.
Key terms
- resource distribution
- reserves
- energy imports
- geography of energy
Fossil fuels and uranium
Reserves are the known deposits that can be extracted profitably with today's technology. Reserves can grow when prices rise or technology improves, because deposits that were too expensive to reach become worth tapping.
Oil: the Middle East holds nearly half of the world's proven oil reserves, with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq among the leaders. Venezuela and Canada also have very large reserves, much of it heavy oil or tar sands that are expensive to extract.
Natural gas: Russia, Iran and Qatar hold the largest reserves.
Coal: the United States has the largest coal reserves, followed by Russia, Australia, China and India.
Uranium: Australia has the largest known uranium resources, and Kazakhstan is the largest producer.
Renewable resources follow climate and geology
- Solar works best at lower latitudes with clear skies and little cloud cover, such as deserts in the US Southwest, North Africa, the Middle East and Australia.
- Wind is strongest on open plains, along coasts, offshore and through mountain passes. The US Great Plains are one of the best wind regions on Earth.
- Geothermal needs hot rock close to the surface, which is found near tectonic plate boundaries and volcanic hot spots: Iceland, the western United States, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Kenya's Rift Valley.
- Hydroelectric power needs a large river with a big drop in elevation. China, Brazil, Canada and Norway generate a lot of it, and Norway gets most of its electricity from hydro.
- Biomass is most available where plants grow fast and there is land and water to spare.
Why distribution matters
A country without enough of its own fuel has to rely on energy imports. That makes its energy prices depend on world markets and on political events in exporting countries. For example, when supplies from a major exporter are cut, prices can spike for every importer.
Distribution also shapes local choices. Iceland uses geothermal energy to heat most of its homes, Norway runs largely on hydro, and coal-rich countries tend to burn coal. A city in a cloudy, calm region cannot simply copy a sunny desert city's solar plan.
Climate and geography also shape how much energy people need. Places with cold winters or very hot summers use more energy for heating and cooling.
Worked examples
Try each one yourself first, then open the solution.
- Example 1
Matching a source to a location
A government wants to build one large renewable power plant. Its two options are a site in a dry, cloudless desert at 25° N latitude and a windy, cloudy coastal site at 58° N. Which renewable source fits each site best? Justify each choice.
Show the solutionHide the solution
- Step 1: Desert at 25° N: low latitude means the sun is high in the sky for much of the year, and clear skies mean little sunlight is blocked. That makes it ideal for solar, either photovoltaic panels or concentrated solar power.
- Step 2: Coastal site at 58° N: at high latitude the sun is lower and days are short in winter, and clouds block sunlight, so solar output would be poor. Strong, steady coastal winds make wind turbines (onshore or offshore) the better fit.
Answer: Solar for the low-latitude desert (strong, direct, cloud-free sunlight); wind for the cloudy high-latitude coast (strong coastal winds, weak sunlight).
Common mistakes
- Assuming geothermal or hydro can be built anywhere. Geothermal needs hot rock near the surface; hydro needs a large river with a drop in elevation.
- Treating 'reserves' as the total amount in the ground. Reserves are only the part that can be extracted profitably with current technology, so they change with price and technology.
- Forgetting that the United States has very large coal reserves, which helps explain its long history of coal-fired power.
On the exam
- Questions often describe a place (latitude, cloud cover, nearby plate boundary, rivers) and ask which energy source would work best there. Tie your answer to a specific feature of the place.
- If asked about energy security, explain how relying on imports exposes a country to price swings and supply disruptions.
Connected topics
Videos
Check yourself
4 questions on 6.4 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources. Pick an answer to see if you got it, and why.
A small, mountainous, landlocked country has no coal, oil or gas deposits, but it has fast-flowing rivers and strong, steady winds on its ridges. Which energy plan best fits its resources?
| Region | Share of world proven oil reserves (%) | Share of world oil consumption (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East | 48 | 9 |
| North America | 14 | 23 |
| Asia-Pacific | 3 | 36 |
| Europe | 1 | 14 |
Hypothetical data
Based on the data, which region most likely imports the largest amount of oil?
Which statement best explains why oil reserves are concentrated in a few regions?
A company wants to build a photovoltaic solar farm where each panel will produce the most electricity over a year. Which location is the best choice?
0 of 4 answered