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

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  • Josef Navrátil

    (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Social and Economic Geography and Spatial Management, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-205 Sosnowiec, Poland)

  • Stanislav Martinát

    (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Social and Economic Geography and Spatial Management, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-205 Sosnowiec, Poland
    Social, Economic and Geographic Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, 8, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK)

  • Tomáš Krejčí

    (Department of Environmental Geography, Institute of Geonics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Drobného 28, CZ-60200 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Petr Klusáček

    (Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University, Třída Generála Píky 2005/7, CZ-61300 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Richard J. Hewitt

    (Transport, Infrastructure and Territory Research Group (tGIS), Geography Department, Faculty of Geography and History, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), C/Profesor Aranguren, s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
    Informational and Computational Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, 8, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
    Observatorio para una Cultura del Territorio (OCT), Calle del Duque de Fernán Núñez 2, 1, 28012 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

We aim to contribute to in-depth comprehension of the factors and preferences behind the reuses of large-scale underused or abandoned former collective farms from the 1950s–1980s for biogas plants and solar photovoltaic power plants. As a case study, three regions in the southern part of the Czech Republic have been selected. Our findings signal that the residents’ attitudes towards the mentioned energy sources are rather negative. Similarly, farmers’ interest in photovoltaic power plants is low. More interest has been detected in the case of biogas production; this is especially true for large agricultural companies and farmers, who own underused or abandoned premises. Biogas plants are frequently located in agricultural areas with warmer or just slightly colder climates as a consequence of the potential to process locally grown maize. On the other hand, photovoltaic power plants are found on more fertile plains with high levels of insolation, but, surprisingly, also in mountain regions which typically have low emissions. Both renewable energy solutions were found to be problematic as there is strong opposition to both types of installations among local inhabitants. This indicates the need for “soft” forms of planning. Stakeholder engagement and inclusive participation in all phases of the planning process are essential requirements for arriving at the best possible outcomes for the new renewable energy solutions and their acceptance by the public.

Suggested Citation

  • Josef Navrátil & Stanislav Martinát & Tomáš Krejčí & Petr Klusáček & Richard J. Hewitt, 2021. "Conversion of Post-Socialist Agricultural Premises as a Chance for Renewable Energy Production. Photovoltaics or Biogas Plants?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:21:p:7164-:d:670058
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