scholarly journals Multicriterial Evaluation of Renewable Energy Expansion Projects at Municipal Level for the Available Biomass Potential

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 6211
Author(s):  
Lucas Blickwedel ◽  
Laura Stößel ◽  
Ralf Schelenz ◽  
Georg Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Reduce Emissions ◽  
Local Opposition ◽  
Initial Objective ◽  
Interest Profile

To reduce emissions in the energy sector and reach worldwide climate goals, further expansion of renewable energy sources (RES) is inevitable. Local opposition has increased in recent years, resulting in the need for more consideration of acceptance issues in the planning process of RES projects. To fill this gap, a method is introduced to consider the dimension of social acceptance in a holistic approach and at an early project stage. In a two-step procedure, a municipal interest profile is created, followed by an examination of possible expansion projects based on the municipal profile. Both hard and soft characteristics of a given project are assessed in combination. Using the example of two potential scenarios for biomass expansion in a given municipality in Germany, the methodology is put to the test. The results show that with the new method House of municipal Energy (HomE), the interest profile of a municipality can be quantified in a comprehensible and transparent way. It is further shown that, depending on the initial objective function of the municipality, different expansion scenarios can be advantageous. In the examined case, the larger biogas plant achieves a higher utility value, since a clearly higher local added value can be generated. A smaller plant, which is only operated with waste materials, is preferable with regard to the required area and lower environmental impact. However, the advantages of the larger plant outweigh those of the smaller plant for the investigated example.

Territorial Governance of EU Cross-Border Renewable Energy Cooperation: A Soluble or Turbulent Model in the Current Framework?

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-97
Author(s):  
Melis Aras
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Cross Border

The energy transition in Europe requires not only the implementation of technological innovations to reduce carbon emissions but also the decentralised extension of these innovations throughout the continent, as demonstrated by the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package. However, decentralised energy generation, and specifically electricity generation, as it gives rise to new players and interactions, also requires a review of the energy planning process. In this sense, governance becomes the key concept for understanding the implementation of the energy transition in a territory. This is particularly visible in a cross-border setting, especially considering cross-border cooperation in the development of renewable energy sources (RES) provides the necessary elements to determine the criteria of local regulation between the different levels of governance. In light of the current legal framework in France, this paper presents the institutional framework of the multi-level governance of the RES development planning process. It concludes that it is quite conceivable for the rationales of governance at the local level (decentralisation) and the large-scale operation of a large interconnected network (Europeanisation) to coexist.

scholarly journals CONSIDERATIONS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND THEIR RELATED PERSPECTIVES OFAGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Ester Foppa-Pedretti ◽  
Giovanni Riva ◽  
Giuseppe Toscano ◽  
Daniele Duca
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
General Education ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Energies ◽  
Energy Planning ◽  
Agricultural Engineering ◽  
Development Plans

This paper discusses some considerations and advances a number of proposals about the potential of Agricultural Engineering to contribute to the field of renewable energy, with an emphasis on biomass. Several areas for action are identified. First, general education and teaching of students who will go on to become technicians and professionals in the sector of renewable energies, even though the characteristics of the sectors are still fuzzy. Diffusion of the energy culture, a too often neglected aspect that is however indispensable to sustain the overdue penetration of renewable energies in Italy, is an additional area for action. Another critical area, energy planning, is currently viewed mainly as involving the assessment on more or less wide areas of energy consumption and for the scope of replacing fossil resources with renewables to meet some energy requirements. A more complex, overarching issue is energy efficiency, especially of buildings, which should be a mainstay of the planning process but is in fact not so clearly addressed in development plans for renewables. At this same level, all interactions among production sectors should be assessed, to enhance the role of agriculture, one of the new potential energy-producing sectors and one of the possible prospective suppliers of renewable energy for different final users, from households to the service sector and industry. Agricultural Engineering has the skills needed to implement all these different actions. A role for it in advanced research, i.e. biotechnologies, can and should also be envisaged. Its work in the renewable energy sector should closely involve microbiological, genetic, chemical, agronomic, and animal research to define the goals to be pursued and to implement intuitions. In this way, Agricultural Engineering would increasingly be characterized as Biosystems Engineering.

scholarly journals Investing in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Palestinian Territories: Barriers and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Aysar Yasin ◽  
Cecilia Camporeale ◽  
Mohammed Alsayed ◽  
Roberto Del Ciello ◽  
Basel Yaseen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Security Of Supply ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Reduce Emissions ◽  
Insight Into

The main objective of this paper is to identify the renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) policy and regulatory risks and barriers in the Palestinian Territories (PT). An accurate insight into the market structure and normative frameworks for RE and EE investments in the PT is performed. For this purpose, a survey has been conducted through two questionnaires and interviews addressed to public decision-makers and local and foreign sectoral companies to study the market confidence in the field of renewable energy sources (RES) and EE. The questionnaire was designed to investigate the attractiveness of RE and EE in the country by directly involving the various market players and to identify what could encourage or hinder investment. RE and EE are, in fact, a valid response to the needs of the PT to guarantee independence and security of supply, ensure access to energy throughout the territory, and reduce emissions. The climate-related issues are listed in the Palestinian political agenda. National subsidies and grants are offered for investment in RES and EE but are still the main barriers. Developments towards further utilization of RES are in progress continually. Marketing campaigns are stimulating the production of RE and EE promotion. RES and EE laws and regulations are continually issued.

scholarly journals Positioning Positive Energy Districts in European Cities

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Oscar Lindholm ◽  
Hassam ur Rehman ◽  
Francesco Reda
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Energy Environment

There are many concepts for buildings with integrated renewable energy systems that have received increased attention during the last few years. However, these concepts only strive to streamline building-level renewable energy solutions. In order to improve the flexibility of decentralized energy generation, individual buildings and energy systems should be able to interact with each other. The positive energy district (PED) concept highlights the importance of active interaction between energy generation systems, energy consumers and energy storage within a district. This paper strives to inform the public, decision makers and fellow researchers about the aspects that should be accounted for when planning and implementing different types of PEDs in different regions throughout the European Union. The renewable energy environment varies between different EU regions, in terms of the available renewable energy sources, energy storage potential, population, energy consumption behaviour, costs and regulations, which affect the design and operation of PEDs, and hence, no PED is like the other. This paper provides clear definitions for different types of PEDs, a survey of the renewable energy market circumstances in the EU and a detailed analysis of factors that play an essential role in the PED planning process.

California’s Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative as a model for state renewable resource development and transmission planning

Climate Law ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Scaccia
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Energy Transmission ◽  
Transmission Planning ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Implementation Stages ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
Environmentally Sound

Given the lack of US federal leadership in climate change regulation, states have taken the lead in the implementation of aggressive policies to promote economic development, decrease dependence on foreign energy imports, and achieve broad environmental goals through increased reliance on renewable energy sources. The renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) has become the most common tool used by states to achieve their particular policy goals; however, numerous barriers stand in the way of electricity providers seeking compliance with the RPS mandate. The California Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) was a statewide attempt to overcome problems related to transmission planning and costs, private and public land-use issues, and environmental impacts. By seeking the involvement of broad stakeholder groups in the identification and evaluation of potential renewable energy zones, RETI created a roadmap for future renewable energy development in California that is both economically and environmentally sound. Through a collaborative transmission planning process, RETI provides key insights into the challenges faced by states attempting to comply with their RPS mandates, including those relating to concerns about participant selection, locating transmission, permitting, and the timing of both the planning and implementation stages of the initiative. In this paper, I evaluate RETI’s success in achieving its stated goals while also identifying areas of concern not addressed by the initiative. The results of this analysis provide guidance for states implementing their own RPS programs.

scholarly journals Explaining the Social Acceptance of Renewables through Location-Related Factors: An Application to the Portuguese Case

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 806
Author(s):  
Lígia M. Costa Pinto ◽  
Sara Sousa ◽  
Marieta Valente
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Emission Mitigation ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Mainland Portugal

The public perception of renewable energy sources is generally positive, due to their role in air pollution and CO2 emission mitigation policies. However, there are local environmental detrimental effects, and empirical evidence is not consistent as to the support of local communities. In the present paper, we analyse the antecedents of public generic perceptions of renewables grounded on objective location-related factors. Personal location-related factors can originate in the involvement of individuals with renewable energy sources. Regional location-related factors concern the importance of the renewable energy source in the district of residence and in relation to other renewables. We implement a questionnaire on public perceptions of renewable energy sources by the general population in mainland Portugal and complement respondent-level responses with renewable energy district information. Regression analysis shows that these objective location-related factors, both personal and regional, help explain public perceptions of renewables and thus we find empirical support for the proposed approach. These results can inform and guide policymakers in tackling future social acceptance issues of renewable energy policies towards lower carbon emissions and less polluting energy production.

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