| Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 17N.1.SL.TZ0.6 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Outline | Question number | 6 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Figure 2: Fact file on Iceland
- Land area of 103 000 km2.
- Terrain is mountainous and volcanic.
- Isolated island so biological diversity is low, and there are few endemic species.
- Only 0.7 % of land is suitable for growing crops, and harsh climate means farming is limited to livestock and geothermally-heated greenhouses.
- 60 % of population live in the capital city Reykjavik.
- Total fertility rate is two children per woman.
- Important industries include fishing, aluminum smelting and tourism.
- Ecological footprint is 7.4 GHa compared to a world average of 2.6 GHa.
- A representative democracy and high income country, ranked 13th highest on the human development index.
- Badly affected by the global financial crisis in 2008.
- Hydroelectric and geothermal power sources provide 85 % of primary energy.
- Expects to be energy-independent, using 100 % renewable energy by 2050.
- Government recently approved oil exploration in Icelandic waters by oil companies.
[Source: Open access/Wikipedia]
Figure 9(a): Graph showing primary energy consumption in Iceland 1940–2008
Figure 9(c): Pie chart showing sources of greenhouse gas emission in Iceland in 2010
With reference to Figure 9(a) outline how Iceland’s primary energy consumption has changed over time.
With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 9(c) outline two possible reasons why energy demand declined in Iceland after 2008.
Markscheme
the energy consumption has increased overtime (from 1940 to 2008);
in 1940s/initially energy consumption was reliant mainly on coal;
in 2008/more recently it was predominantly reliant on geothermal/renewable energy/ has relatively little reliance on fossil fuels/coal/overtime it has changed from being mainly coal/fossil fuels/non-renewable to geothermal/renewable energy;
from around 1940-1970 there is a steady growth in consumption/greater use of oil and geothermal;
from 2004/05 there is a rapid increase in consumption/expansion of geothermal and hydropower;
Accept other responses that correctly link the change in growth in energy or the balance of energy sources to the time period.
economic crisis in 2008 led to industrial decline /reduction of demand for aluminium world-wide;
following economic crisis, households had less money/tighter budgets and therefore reduced energy use;
industry accounts for the largest share of energy consumption (40 %);
deliberate efforts to reduce consumption through energy conservation
Do not accept only ‘2008 economic crisis has led to reduction in energy demand’ without explanation or ‘emigration could reduce energy demand'.
Examiners report
There were some good responses that linked the increase in energy consumption and the changing mix of energy sources to specific time periods. Common error was not to refer to the time period being discussed or incorrectly interpreting the graph and suggesting coal and oil were the most used energy sources in 2008.
Few candidates achieved full marks for this question. Many responses identified ‘economic crisis’ but did not link this to reduction in industrial activity and therefore reduction in energy demand. Another common error was to assume that changing to renewable energy sources reduces energy demand.
