“There is no truly sustainable solution to the world’s growing energy problems.” Discuss this statement.

Responses are likely to identify energy-related problems such as: meeting the growing demand; increasing the use of renewable sources of energy; cutting energy costs, increasing energy availability; expansion of energy production into sensitive environments. There could be a brief explanation of the causes of the problems identified.

Responses could also include some discussion of what a sustainable solution involves, with clear reference to being able to meet future demand.

Candidates are likely to divide energy resources into renewable (wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, tidal) and non-renewable (fossil fuels and possibly nuclear energy). Many answers are likely to discuss each of the renewable sources, pointing out their relative merits. However, development of renewable sources (generally considered to be sustainable) is unlikely to be able to meet the growing demand owing to high investment costs and locational considerations.

In considering some of the other energy problems, the discussion might extend to strategies of energy conservation/reduction.

To reach bands E and F, responses should show a sound understanding of sustainability and a good knowledge of at least two distinct energy problems.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

This was the most popular question. In general the best answers had excellent knowledge of the term “sustainable” when applied to specific energy issues. The grade E and F answers had a balanced approach of both energy conservation and alternative energy sources with pertinent exemplification, for example, wind farms in Denmark. Weaker candidates tended to write about the advantages and disadvantages of numerous alternative energies with little reference to either energy problems or sustainability. These were self-limiting.