Key term: Definition:

This relates to the different primary energy sources a country uses and
Starter: Match the in what proportions. This is often spilt into renewable and non-
renewable forms of energy. Primary energy is the energy that's
definition to the key harvested directly from natural resources (e.g. coal or solar) rather than
term: energy mix, electricity or petrol which have been converted into secondary energy.
The ability of a nation to secure sufficient, affordable and consistent
energy security energy supplies for its domestic, industrial, transport and military
electricity mix. requirements. It means that current and future energy needs have a
high probability of being met, irrespective of economic or political
instability.
Extension: How might Describes the breakdown of energy sources used specifically to generate
electricity. For this reason, it does not take into account issues
these three terms be surrounding energy use in transportation and large segments of industry
linked? and housing.
Key term: Definition:
Energy mix This relates to the different primary energy sources a country uses and
in what proportions. This is often spilt into renewable and non-
renewable forms of energy. Primary energy is the energy that's
harvested directly from natural resources (e.g. coal or solar) rather than
electricity or petrol which have been converted into secondary energy.
 Key term: Definition:
Energy security The ability of a nation to secure sufficient, affordable and consistent
energy supplies for its domestic, industrial, transport and military
requirements. It means that current and future energy needs have a
high probability of being met, irrespective of economic or political
instability.

Task: Why do
countries
diversify their
energy mix?
Write a short
paragraph
explaining your
ideas.
 • The energy mix of a country is an important determinant of its
energy security. Energy diversification means introducing
different energy sources into the energy mix and increasing
Task: the share of energy generated from each source to avoid a
Add any key sole dependence on a single energy resource.
ideas you were • Diversifying the energy mix/sources has been identified as a
missing. crucial strategy for achieving energy security. The rationale is
that it is better to be exposed to several risks with limited
consequences than to one risk where the probability of failure
What could is weak, but that failure has unbearable consequences for the
shocks in the economies.
energy supply
• Diversity, thus, ensures security in that, when one energy
look like? source fails, a country can depend on other energy sources to
meet its needs. Energy diversification offers a preventative
measure against shocks in the energy supply system.
Case Study: Energy Supply and Change in
Germany
Lesson objective: To define energy security and energy mix. To consider
Germany’s domestic supplies and imports of energy. To explain non-renewable
energy production in Germany. To explain production methods in Germany.
Germany is the largest
consumer of energy in Europe.
Primary energy consumption
was 12.11 exajoules in
Germany in 2020.
Starter: Make as many connections between
the key terms as you can.

Nuclear Fuelwood LICs

HICs MICs Coal
Energy ladder Wind power Solar power
Natural gas Energy security Climate
agreements
Starter: Describe the
trend in renewables’
share in Germany’s
electricity mix (3
marks).

Extension: Suggest
reasons for this trend.
Renewables in Germany
• In 2020, 44.6% of Germany’s German Electricity Mix: Share of energy sources in
German electricity production in 2020.
electricity was generated using
renewables. 16.8% of its energy
mix was derived from renewables.

• The most significant renewable

energy source for electricity was
onshore wind.

• Biomass was the most significant

renewable energy source for the
entire energy mix.
Future Change:
• The 2010 "Energiewende" policy has been embraced
by the German federal government and has resulted
in a huge expansion of renewables, particularly wind
power. This is only likely to grow further in the future
as Germany shut its last nuclear power station in 2023
and retire coal-fired generation by 2038. Wind power
also provides Germany with a domestic supply of
energy.

• Following the 2011 Japanese Fukushima nuclear

disaster, Germany's federal government began work
on a new plan for increasing renewable energy
commercialisation, with a particular focus on offshore
wind farms. Wind speed at sea is 70 to 100% higher
than onshore and much more constant.
Debate: Is Germany right to pursue 100%
renewable electricity by 2035?
• You will be split into small groups to
argument for and against Germany’s
transition to renewables.
• Your group will have one of the
following energy types: Coal, natural
gas, solar, wind and nuclear.
• Fewer people in non-renewables
groups.
• Resources available.
Research to complete on each:
Current contribution to the electricity mix
How policy changes will affect its expected use
The advantages of the energy source in the German
context
The disadvantages of the energy source in the
German context as well as counter points.
Social: Impacts on health and cost of living
Political: Conflict and geopolitical situations
Economic: Current and future costs
Environmental: Environmental degradation
and pollution, climate, relief
 For Renewables (against non- Against Renewables (for non-
renewables) renewables)
Solar: Coal:

Wind: Gas:

Nuclear:
Resources:
• Coal: https://www.e3g.org/news/germany-on-track-to-exit-coal/

• Gas:
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/norway-supplied-almost-half-german-natural-gas-imports-durin
g-first-nine-months-2023

• Nuclear:
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/15/europe/germany-nuclear-phase-out-climate-intl/index.html

• Solar: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-solar-industry-looks-to-rise-again-187262

• Wind:
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/germany-adds-60-more-onshore-wind-power
-1st-half-pace-seen-too-slow-2023-07-18/
We are going to delve into
Germany’s energy mix and the
reasons for its composition.
• First, we are going to complete a
challenging 7-mark question on the
topic.

• Task: Read the information and jot a

few ideas down for the question “For
a named country you have studied,
describe the methods used to supply
energy. (7 marks).”
Discussion and modelling:

• “For a named country you have

studied, describe the methods used
to supply energy. (7 marks).”

• How will we describe?

• Importance. Types. Locations. Briefly

how it operates.
“For a named country you have
studied, describe the methods used to
supply energy. (7 marks).”
Model ideas: