Working as a Scientist Presenting and Analysing Data
Our Past and Future Energy Needs Like many countries, Ireland has seen a big increase in its energy demands in recent years. Increased economic activity, a growing population and greater urbanisation have caused this growth in energy use.
The following bar chart produced by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) shows the energy requirements in Ireland by fuel type from 1990 to 2013.
z Fig. 24.5.1
Ireland’s energy requirements 1990–2013
NR(W) = Non-renewable energy from wastes
An important part of analysing data is to recognise patterns and relationships. In this case, the data is presented in a bar chart and shows energy requirements from different sources against time. The energy use is measured in millions of tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) and the time is displayed in years. When we identify trends, we aim to represent them using simple statements called ‘evidence-based statementsʼ.
1 State whether or not the following statements are justified by this data. a. The quantity of energy generated from renewable fuels has increased from 1990 to 2013.
b. Oil and natural gas make up the largest proportion of the energy requirement. c. Coal provided a larger proportion of Ireland’s energy requirement in 2013 than it did in 1990.
d. The energy generated from peat has declined steadily from 1990 to 2013.
2 Calculate the difference in Ireland’s total energy demand between 1990 and 2013.
3 Suggest why there might be such a large difference in energy demands. 4 Which fuel type seems to be showing the biggest growth in demand from 2000 onwards? Suggest why this may be the case.
