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Energy security

Energy futures in the EU

  • Key Stage Four,
  • Module,
  • Natural resources and energy
  • Overview
  • Lesson one: Case study
  • Lesson two: Data analysis
  • Lesson three: Practical task
  • Follow up

Key words

  • Economic geography

  • Economics

  • Oil

  • Gas

  • Fossil fuels

  • Development

  • Globalisation

  • Trade

  • Aid

  • Interdependence

  • Governance

  • EU

  • Superpowers

  • Sustainability

  • Energy futures

  • Transition

Summary

Location

Ralitsa Hiteva, a postgraduate student at the University of Manchester, is going to be making a series of journeys to Bulgaria, Belgium and within the United Kingdom. She will be visiting 30 different cities as part of her research.

Aims

  • To explore the way that energy is used, governed and controlled in a number of EU countries

  • To look at the different ways that energy affects people’s lives

Research techniques

Data were collected using a number of research techniques that include semi-structured interviews with energy and policy experts
The use of case-studies (Bulgaria and UK’s energy sectors)
Desk-based document analysis which will include reports, letters, meeting minutes, articles, website contents and statistical data

Outcomes

A comparative analysis of two distinctive approaches (Bulgaria and UK) to energy governance within the European Union
A better understanding of the role of regulation and the politics of scale in low-carbon transitions
An analysis of the interplay of processes that construct low-carbon transitions in the European Union

Key questions

What are the current issues for energy production and consumption in the EU?

What impact does the changing energy situation have on the average energy consumer?

Does that impact vary across the EU?

How will different organisations affect future energy security?

“One reason that I chose this place based context was because I speak Bulgarian...
Bulgaria is close to EU, but few people know much about it, and even less about the energy policies of the government. It is difficult to know what is happening without people going there....”

A reminder that Geography can take you places.

Ralitsa has also chosen to focus on energy as this is a policy area that will be developing for the next 20 or 30 years: within the lifespan of her career, so she should have a good chance of being employed.

Additional links

  • Bulgaria Energy Efficient Cities

  • 2050 Tool introduced

  • DECC Website 2050 Pathways

  • Energy toolkit for schools from the EU

  • Tackling climate change

  • Energy toolkit and other resources for doing a school energy audit

  • Details on energy labelling of appliances – a major element of the EU strategy to reduce energy consumption

  • 2050 website with energy advice

  • British Gas initiative – free resources including short movies on energy efficiency

  • More examples of how a school can be monitoring its energy use

About the author

Alan Parkinson worked for the Geographical Association as Secondary Curriculum Development Leader between 2008 and 2011, after teaching for over twenty years in Norfolk and Derbyshire. He developed the popular GeographyPages website in 2001, and received the Ordnance Survey Award for 'excellence in secondary geography teaching' from the RGS-IBG in 2008. He is currently a freelance author and geographer.

The researcher

Raslita Hiteva

Ralitsa Hiteva is a PhD researcher at the University of Manchester. Her research project involves 18 months of fieldwork in Bulgaria, the UK and Belgium. Her research looks at the way that energy is used, governed and controlled. She is also exploring the different ways that energy affects people’s lives.

 

'From the field' Awards - Inspiring fieldwork supported by the RGS-IBG

Delivered in collaboration with The Goldsmiths' Company, these awards enable geography teachers to work alongside practioners at the cutting edge of geographical research to develop educational resources for the classroom.

 

 

Downloads

  • Energy Security GCSE Specification (.doc)
  • Energy Security GCSE Specification (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Interview with Ralitasa (.docx)
  • Energy Security Interview with Ralitasa (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Fieldwork Introduction by Ralitasa (.docx)
  • Energy Security Fieldwork Introduction by Ralitasa (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Bulgarian Energy Factsheet One (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Bulgarian Energy Factsheet Two (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Bulgarian Energy Case Study Template (.doc)
  • Energy Security Bulgarian Energy Case Study Template (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Glossary (.doc)
  • Energy Security Glossary (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Teacher Factfile (.doc)
  • Energy Security Teacher Factfile (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Great Uncle Memories (.doc)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Great Uncle Memories (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Great Uncle Timeline (.doc)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Great Uncle Timeline (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Checklist (.docx)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Checklist (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Graph (.jpg)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Vampire Hunters Guide (.docx)
  • Energy Security Lesson 1 Vampire Hunters Guide (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 2 2050 Instruction Sheets (.docx)
  • Energy Security Lesson 2 2050 Instruction Sheets (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 2 Worldmapper Map (.pdf)
  • Energy Security Lesson 3 Detective Badges (.docx)
  • Energy Security Lesson 3 Detective Badges (.pdf)
  • Download all

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