Renewables projects in peripheries: determinants, challenges and perspectives of biogas plants – insights from Central European countries

Abstract

View related articlesView Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles Renewables projects in peripheries: determinants, challenges and perspectives of biogas plantsinsights from Central European countries

Conversion of Post-Socialist Agricultural Premises as a Chance for Renewable Energy Production. Photovoltaics or Biogas Plants?

“…Generally, the image of renewable energy is positive [43]. On the other hand, the construction of PV, and especially biogas plants is often problematic because of local community opposition [45]. The results of our survey confirm that the popularity/acceptance of at least some renewable energy types among the population is generally at a very low level.…”

“…Many studies record a negative perception of biogas plants by inhabitants of rural communities [43]. Diverse reasons for this negative perception include a perceived reduction of the quality of the local environment (including odor leakages) or in reduced attractiveness of the local area for tourism [45]. The image of biogas production was further tarnished by their identification with the environmentally questionable practice of supplying such plants with energy crops that were purpose-grown on good arable land [46].…”

“…As a result of particular interest by Central European policymakers in biogas production [45], large-scale governmental subsidies together with a long term-guaranteed purchase price of generated electricity made available, resulting in the very rapid development of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants [28]. As a result, biogas installations spread quickly throughout the countryside and, by the end of the first decade of the 21st century, it had become one of the most productive types of RE in the Czech Republic [29].…”

“…Many PV and biogas plants have already been installed throughout the Czech countryside [10,11,29,34,45,64,66,67], and there is no doubt that in many cases they are located on former collective farms [33].…”

Rich or poor? Who actually lives in proximity to AD plants in Wales?

“…The restorative and regenerative concept of circular economies is highly germane to AD plants, given the potential for extracting utility and value from its products, components, and input materials [57]. AD plants are potentially one of basic elements of our future bio-economy where fossil fuels will be replaced by more sustainable renewable energy sources [58,59], obviating the harms of waste disposal. However, the extent to which these benefits are fully realised, and for whom, is integrally related to the chosen sites of AD plants.…”