With reference to located examples, explain how the exploitation of energy resources can create opportunities for local communities

Authors Avatar by pipperwood1111 (student)

With reference to located examples, explain how the exploitation of energy resources can create opportunities for local communities (25 marks)

Energy can be considered as a renewable and a non-renewable resource. Renewable energy can be used over and over again. These resources (e.g. wind, solar and hydroelectric) are sustainable and usually cause little or no environmental pollution. Whereas, Non-renewable sources of energy are the fossil fuels and eventually these resources could become exhausted. The exploitation of energy resources creates numerous opportunities for local communities socially, economically and environmentally. The UK, Mali and the Three Gorges dam are no exception.

The exploitation of energy resources in the UK can create a number of opportunities. The UK has already taken between half and three-quarters of the oil and gas in its territorial waters. Natural gas is the least polluting of all fossil fuels and therefore, it is a healthier resource for the environment. Nuclear power in the UK appears to be back on the agenda. The UK will be able to avoid electricity shortages and meet its climate change obligations at a reasonable cost and therefore, it is good for the community economically. At the beginning of the twentieth century, coalmining was the country’s biggest employer. At its peak the industry employed over one million workers and therefore, it benefitted the UK socially. The coal industry in the UK is now developing ‘clean coal technologies.’ This new technology has developed forms of coal that burn with greater efficiency and capture coal’s pollutants before they are emitted into the atmosphere, and this will help the environment. The UK generates only about 0.8 per cent of its electricity from HEP. Most of the large scale plants are located in the Scottish Highlands. HEP is seen as a clean form of energy and this is good for the environment as fuel is not burned so there is minimal pollution. Rainfall falls into the reservoir, so the fuel is almost always there! The UK also has economic opportunities created by HEP because water to run the power plant is provided free by nature. Also, there are relatively low operations and maintenance costs. Britain has a wind farm 3km off the coast of Great Yarmouth. The government encourages wind power to help meet its commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This is another resource to help the environment as wind is a clean source of renewable energy that produces no air or water pollution. And since the wind is free, operational costs are nearly zero once a turbine is built helping the community economically.

Join now!

The exploitation of energy resources in Mali can create a number of opportunities. Mali in West Africa is an extremely poor country. Most people depend on the environment, in terms of farming and fishing for their livelihoods. Woodcutting is a rural industry and provides the only source of employment for many people. This is a great benefit to Mali socially. In 1990 the government created a new Domestic Energy Strategy. Its emphasis on renewable energy gained important international financial backing and this economically aided the community. With an average of 5-6 hours of sunshine a day The Mali Folke Centre ...

This is a preview of the whole essay