A country’s energy choices depend on its available resources, costs, technology, energy demand, infrastructure, government policy, environmental impacts and public perspectives. Together, these determine the country’s energy mix: the proportions supplied by different energy sources.
This is core IB ESS Subtopic 7.2: Energy sources: uses and management, studied at both SL and HL. Governments balance several interconnected factors rather than choosing an energy source for one reason alone.
| Factor | How it affects energy choices | Named example |
|---|---|---|
| Resource availability | Countries tend to exploit accessible domestic resources, reducing dependence on imports. | Iceland uses geothermal and hydroelectric energy because of its volcanic geology and rivers. |
| Economic cost | Construction, operation, fuel, decommissioning and grid costs influence affordability. | Countries with existing coal infrastructure may retain coal because replacement requires major investment. |
| Technology and infrastructure | Technical expertise, electricity grids and storage capacity determine which sources are practical. | Denmark combines extensive wind generation with a well-connected electricity grid. |
| Energy security | Reliable domestic supplies can reduce exposure to import disruption and changing global prices. | France developed nuclear power partly to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. |
| Environmental impacts | Greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, habitat loss, waste and resource depletion affect decisions. | Costa Rica has promoted renewable electricity, particularly hydropower, geothermal and wind power. |
| Political policy | Subsidies, taxes, regulations and international commitments can encourage or restrict sources. | Germany’s energy transition has supported renewable energy while reducing nuclear generation. |
| Social values | Public attitudes toward nuclear risk, dams, wind turbines or fossil-fuel employment affect acceptability. | Opposition may delay projects even where they are technically feasible. |
A key misconception is that renewable automatically means sustainable. Hydroelectric power is renewable, but a dam may flood ecosystems, displace communities and create environmental-justice concerns. Energy decisions therefore reflect technocentric, anthropocentric and ecocentric perspectives.
Exam technique: For an “explain” question, link each factor to its effect on the energy mix. For “evaluate” or “discuss,” present benefits and limitations, use named countries, consider contrasting perspectives, and reach a supported conclusion.
