SPEC 4.1.3 • ENERGY — RESOURCES
National & Global Energy Resources
The eight named resources, the four definitions that anchor every answer, and the structured 6-mark evaluation that scores Level 3.
Why This Lesson Matters
Energy resources is one of the most reliably examined extended-response topics on Paper 1. There's almost always a 4-mark or 6-mark evaluation question — and the marks are won or lost on vocabulary and structure, not knowledge alone.
By the end of this lesson
You'll name and classify all the resources in the spec, distinguish renewable vs reliable (they're not the same thing), structure a 6-mark evaluation answer that addresses both transport AND electricity generation, and avoid the most-penalised mistake — calling "hydroelectric" an energy store.
Final Lesson Of Module 1
This wraps Topic 1 (Energy). Module 2 (Electricity) starts next — where you'll see why the distinction between an energy resource and an energy store really matters.
Four Key Definitions
Every evaluation answer rests on these four terms. Get them right and you're already operating in mark-scheme language.
Energy Resource
A naturally occurring source from which energy can be obtained.
Renewable
A resource that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used. (This is the spec's exact wording.)
Non-Renewable
A resource that, once used, cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
Reliable
Available on demand — produces energy when it is needed.
Renewable ≠ Reliable
These two words describe different things. Wind power is renewable (the wind keeps blowing) but not reliable (sometimes there's no wind). Coal is reliable (always available to burn) but not renewable. Both axes matter.
The Named Resources
The spec names a specific list. Memorise it — being able to name resources is the first mark on any 4–6 mark question.
Coal
Oil
Gas
Nuclear fuel
Bio-fuel
Wind
Hydro-electricity
Geothermal
The tides
The Sun
Water waves
Three groups, one list
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) and nuclear fuel are non-renewable. Everything else on the list is renewable.
Renewable, Reliable & Used For…
The full classification — what you need at recall for any compare/evaluate question. Reliable and renewable get their own columns because they're independent.
ResourceRenewable?Reliable?Main uses
CoalNoYesElectricity (historically also heating)
OilNoYesTransport, electricity, heating
GasNoYesElectricity, heating
Nuclear fuelNoYesElectricity
Bio-fuelYesYes (when stored)Transport, heating, electricity
WindYesNoElectricity
Hydro-electricityYesYes (when there's water)Electricity
GeothermalYesYesElectricity, heating
TidesYesYes (predictable)Electricity
The SunYesNoElectricity, heating
Water wavesYesNoElectricity
Spec Scope Note
The spec explicitly states: "Descriptions of how energy resources are used to generate electricity are not required." You don't need to explain how a wind turbine works or how nuclear fission powers a reactor — just classify the resource and discuss trade-offs.
The Three Uses
The spec is specific: there are three uses of energy resources you must consider. When a question asks you to "compare", organise your answer around these.
Transport
Mostly oil (petrol, diesel) and bio-fuel; increasingly electric vehicles powered from the grid.
Electricity Generation
All eleven named resources can generate electricity — by far the most varied category. Different resources have different trade-offs.
Heating
Mostly gas (boilers); also oil (rural boilers without gas mains), bio-fuel, geothermal, solar water heating; historically also coal.
The Multi-Sector Trap
If a question asks about reducing fossil fuel use across multiple sectors, you must address each sector separately. Answers covering only one sector typically lose half the marks.
Why Some Renewables Aren't Reliable
The fundamentally intermittent renewables all depend on conditions outside human control. This is the single most-asked sub-point in extended response questions.
ResourceReliability Issue
WindNo output when the wind doesn't blow; power varies with wind speed
The Sun (solar)Zero output at night; reduced output in cloud cover or winter
Water wavesDepends on weather; calm seas → no power
Why this matters for evaluation
Switching entirely to intermittent renewables means you need energy storage (batteries, pumped storage) or backup generation to cover the gaps. A Level-3 answer mentions this trade-off explicitly.
Hydro Is Different
Hydro-electric is generally classed as reliable because the reservoir stores water and electricity can be generated on demand. However, in evaluation answers you can mention that hydro depends on rainfall keeping the reservoir topped up — making it vulnerable to extended droughts. Don't lump it in with wind / solar / waves.
Reliable renewables to remember
Tides (predictable cycle), geothermal (constant underground heat), and bio-fuel (can be stored and burned on demand) are the renewables that are reliable. Hydro is reliable while the reservoir holds water. These are powerful examples in evaluation answers.
Trade-offs To Weigh
An evaluation answer doesn't pick a winner — it weighs the trade-offs. Four categories to draw from.
Trade-offExamples to use in answers
CostCapital cost (high for nuclear, hydro, offshore wind) vs running cost (low for renewables, high for fossil fuels). Decommissioning cost (high for nuclear).
ReliabilityAlways-on (fossil, nuclear, geothermal, tidal) vs intermittent (wind, solar, waves) vs storable (bio-fuel, hydro).
Environmental impactCO₂ emissions, habitat disruption (hydro dams, wind farms), nuclear waste storage, decommissioning, air quality (fossil fuel particulates).
Political / social / ethical / economicEnergy security (avoiding imports), jobs, public acceptance (e.g. nuclear, wind farms), land use vs food production (bio-fuel).
Spec Reminder
The spec says: science can identify environmental issues but not always resolve them, because of political, social, ethical or economic considerations. Use this framing in any "should we…" type question.
Patterns & Trends (spec point)
The spec asks you to explain patterns and trends in the use of energy resources. Useful general trends to be ready to reference:
Coal use is decreasing rapidly in the UK and many other countries — driven by emissions targets and falling renewable costs
Wind and solar generation are growing fast, especially offshore wind
Gas remains a significant share of electricity generation as a flexible backup for intermittent renewables
Nuclear is roughly steady — high capital cost is balanced against zero-CO₂ generation
Global trend toward decarbonisation — driven by climate concerns; pace varies by country
Environmental Impact
No resource is environmentally free. The cleanest renewables still have impacts. Examiners reward answers that recognise this.
Higher Impact
Coal/oil/gas: CO₂, air pollution (particulates, SO₂), climate change
Nuclear: radioactive waste, accident risk, decommissioning
Bio-fuel: land use vs food, deforestation if unsustainable
Hydro: habitat disruption from flooding river valleys
Lower Impact
Wind: visual impact, bird/bat strikes, manufacturing footprint
Solar: manufacturing emissions, end-of-life disposal
Tidal: impact on marine habitats and migration
Geothermal: minor seismic activity, very limited geography
Waves: impact on coastal habitats
The "balance" mark
Top-band answers acknowledge that no resource is impact-free — the question is which trade-offs are acceptable, not which option is "perfect".
The "Hydroelectric Energy" Trap
One of the most consistent errors in this topic — and one that's easy to fix once you see it.
Common Error
Students write "hydroelectric energy" or "wind energy" as if these were energy stores. They are not. They are energy resources. The actual stores involved are the named eight (kinetic, gravitational, elastic, thermal, chemical, magnetic, electrostatic, nuclear).
Correct chain — hydroelectric
Gravitational store (water held high in the reservoir) → kinetic store of falling water → kinetic store of the turbine → electrical generator → useful electrical output.
✗ Wrong
"Hydroelectric energy is converted into electrical energy."
"Hydroelectric energy" is not a store. "Energy" doesn't get "converted" — it's transferred between stores.
✓ Right
"Hydro-electricity uses the gravitational store of water held at height. As the water falls, energy is transferred to the kinetic store of the turbine."
The 6-Mark Answer Template
For "suggest how a country could reduce fossil-fuel use" type questions, follow this three-step template. Plan it before you write.
1
State what activity should stop or reduce. Be specific — name the fossil fuel and the sector ("burning coal in power stations", "running petrol cars").
2
State what should replace it. Name a specific renewable resource and explain why it works ("replace with wind and tidal power, which produce no CO₂ during electricity generation").
3
Cover BOTH transport AND electricity generation. If the question mentions multiple sectors, address each one separately. Skipping a sector is the most common way to lose half the marks.
Bonus marks
For Level 3, also acknowledge a trade-off — e.g. "wind is intermittent, so it would need to be paired with energy storage" or "switching has high capital cost but reduces long-term emissions". The mark scheme rewards balanced reasoning.
Weak vs Strong Evaluation Answers
The vocabulary patterns mark schemes consistently reward — and reject — for evaluation questions on this topic.
✗ Vague — REJECTED
"Use renewable energy instead"
"Renewables are better for the environment"
"Saves energy"
"Wind is renewable so it should always be used"
"Stop using fossil fuels" (no alternative given)
✓ Precise — CREDITED
"Replace coal-fired power stations with wind and tidal generation"
"Lower CO₂ emissions from electricity generation"
"Replace petrol vehicles with electric vehicles charged from a renewable grid"
"Wind is intermittent, so storage or backup generation is needed"
Three Recurring Pitfalls
1. Vague language — "saves energy" / "better for the environment" — reject unless qualified with a specific mechanism.
2. One-sided answer — naming the problem without naming the solution.
3. Single sector — addressing only transport or only electricity when the question mentions both.
PEE Worked Example
How to apply the template to a 4-mark "suggest" question. Two PEE blocks — one per sector.
Suggest two ways a country could reduce its use of fossil fuels for transport and electricity generation. 4 MARKS
Transport (2 marks)
P Replace petrol and diesel cars with electric vehicles. E Electric vehicles draw their energy from the electricity grid rather than burning oil-based fuels directly. EBecause the grid can be supplied by renewables, this shifts emissions away from transport entirely — reducing CO₂ output.
Electricity Generation (2 marks)
P Replace gas-fired power stations with wind and hydro-electric generation. E These renewable resources do not deplete and produce no CO₂ during generation. EHowever, wind is intermittent, so the country would need energy storage or a reliable renewable like tidal to cover demand peaks.
Practice Question
natural gas
Evaluate the use of solar power as an alternative for this country. Your answer should include the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. 6 MARKS
Advantages:
Solar is renewable — the Sun's energy is being replenished continuously
No CO₂ produced during electricity generation, reducing climate impact
Low running cost once panels are installed
Can be installed on existing buildings — minimal habitat disruption
Disadvantages:
Solar is not reliable — produces nothing at night and reduced output in cloud cover
High capital cost for installing large-scale solar farms
Needs to be paired with energy storage (batteries) or a reliable backup resource to meet demand at all times
Manufacturing the panels has its own environmental footprint
Balanced conclusion: solar is a strong renewable replacement for some of the gas-fired generation, but cannot fully replace it without storage or pairing with reliable renewables (e.g. tidal, geothermal).
How marks are awarded: Level 1 (1–2 marks) — single advantage or disadvantage, no link to question. Level 2 (3–4 marks) — multiple points but one-sided OR no balanced conclusion. Level 3 (5–6 marks) — multiple advantages AND disadvantages, specific reasoning, balanced conclusion that links to the country's specific context.
Lesson Summary
Definitions
Energy resource: naturally occurring source of energy
Renewable: being (or can be) replenished as it's used
Non-renewable: can't be replenished on a human timescale
Reliable: available on demand
Renewable ≠ reliable — independent properties
Resources & Uses
Non-renewable: coal, oil, gas, nuclear fuel
Renewable: bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun, water waves
Three uses: transport, electricity generation, heating
Unreliable renewables: wind, the Sun, water waves (and hydro depends on rainfall)
The 6-Mark Template
1
State what activity to stop / reduce
2
State what should replace it (specific resource)
3
Cover both transport AND electricity
Level 3 bonus: acknowledge a trade-off — intermittency, cost, or environmental impact.
The single most-penalised mistake
Calling "hydroelectric" or "wind" an energy store. They are resources. The stores involved are gravitational, kinetic, etc. — the named eight from Lesson 1.01.
Checkpoint
You should now be able to…
Define energy resource, renewable, non-renewable, and reliable
Name all the resources from the spec — fossil fuels, nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun, water waves
Classify each resource by renewable / reliable / main uses
Explain why some renewables (wind, solar, waves) are not reliable
Discuss trade-offs — cost, reliability, environmental impact, political/social/ethical/economic
Avoid the "hydroelectric energy is a store" trap
Structure a 4–6 mark evaluation answer using the three-step template, addressing both transport AND electricity
Module 1 Complete 🎉
That's all of Topic 1 — Energy. Next up: Module 2, Electricity. The highest-leverage Paper 1 module by equation count, and where unit discipline becomes everything.
Next: Why This Lesson Matters