<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Bio-energy (like other renewable energy sources) is proposed as a solution for climate change and other energy-related and economic issues. The predominant production model, however, which is based on first-generation biofuels developed on a global scale, creates ecological impacts throughout the production chain, resulting in a sustainability paradox, as well as social unrest and territorial conflict. Therefore, attention here is focussed on agro-energy and second-generation biofuels, investigating the structural differences, the advantages, the potential problems and the possible solutions of some local biofuel initiatives in North Western Europe. Finally, we propose a regional agrarian model to avoid the impacts and contradictions of the global industrial model, to produce a better ecological balance at both the local and the global levels, and to improve the democratic character of energy governance. In addition, we suggest a paradigmatic reading to better understand the cultural, political and socio-economic implications of the two models.</p></abstract>

Bio-energy (like other renewable energy sources) is proposed as a solution for climate change and other energy-related and economic issues. The predominant production model, however, which is based on first-generation biofuels developed on a global scale, creates ecological impacts throughout the production chain, resulting in a sustainability paradox, as well as social unrest and territorial conflict. Therefore, attention here is focussed on agro-energy and second-generation biofuels, investigating the structural differences, the advantages, the potential problems and the possible solutions of some local biofuel initiatives in North Western Europe. Finally, we propose a regional agrarian model to avoid the impacts and contradictions of the global industrial model, to produce a better ecological balance at both the local and the global levels, and to improve the democratic character of energy governance. In addition, we suggest a paradigmatic reading to better understand the cultural, political and socio-economic implications of the two models.

Sustainable biofuel: A question of scale and aims

Moravian Geographical Reports

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Sustainable biofuel: A question of scale and aims"}

Bio-energy (like other renewable energy sources) is proposed as a solution for climate change and other energy-related and economic issues. The predominant...

Sustainable biofuel: A question of scale and aims

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 220 - 233

Received: Nov 14, 2016

Accepted: Nov 30, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2017-0019

Keywords
biofuel, global industrial model, regional agrarian model, local scale, short chain, North Western Europe

© 2017 Margherita Ciervo et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Sustainable biofuel: A question of scale and aims

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 220 - 233

Received: Nov 14, 2016

Accepted: Nov 30, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2017-0019

Keywordsbiofuel, global industrial model, regional agrarian model, local scale, short chain, North Western Europe

© 2017 Margherita Ciervo et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
biofuel, global industrial model, regional agrarian model, local scale, short chain, North Western Europe