LAPSE:2023.14288
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.14288
Best Practice Forever? Dynamics behind the Perception of Farm-Fed Anaerobic Digestion Plants in Rural Peripheries
March 1, 2023
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants undoubtedly represent an integral and irreplaceable element in rural energy transition and sustainable waste management. In our study, we focus on an advanced understanding of the dynamics behind the changing perceptions of AD plants in host communities in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The surveyed AD plant case studies were selected to represent best-practice examples of AD plant operations in their countries. By means of a comparative survey in three host communities, we seek to learn more about the shift in perceptions of AD plants between their planning and operational phases. We find that, although our cases are considered best-practice examples of AD plant operations, their overall support in their communities dramatically dropped in the operational phase consequent to real-life experience with living in the neighbourhood of an AD plant. Additionally, our findings indicate that respondents who reported the most severe deterioration of AD plant perceptions were, surprisingly, those who had participated in the planning process more than other respondents. The most frequently mentioned type of participation in the planning phase was reported to be visits to the local administration office to inspect an AD plant’s planning documentation. We argue that deteriorating perceptions of best-practice examples of AD plant operations negatively impact the further development and acceptance of the biogas sector in Eastern Europe. The element of acceptance by the locals of AD plant operations urgently requires reflection in the definition of best practices to inspire and upgrade both existing and planned biogas energy projects.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants undoubtedly represent an integral and irreplaceable element in rural energy transition and sustainable waste management. In our study, we focus on an advanced understanding of the dynamics behind the changing perceptions of AD plants in host communities in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The surveyed AD plant case studies were selected to represent best-practice examples of AD plant operations in their countries. By means of a comparative survey in three host communities, we seek to learn more about the shift in perceptions of AD plants between their planning and operational phases. We find that, although our cases are considered best-practice examples of AD plant operations, their overall support in their communities dramatically dropped in the operational phase consequent to real-life experience with living in the neighbourhood of an AD plant. Additionally, our findings indicate that respondents who reported the most severe deterioration of AD plant perceptions were, surprisingly, those who had participated in the planning process more than other respondents. The most frequently mentioned type of participation in the planning phase was reported to be visits to the local administration office to inspect an AD plant’s planning documentation. We argue that deteriorating perceptions of best-practice examples of AD plant operations negatively impact the further development and acceptance of the biogas sector in Eastern Europe. The element of acceptance by the locals of AD plant operations urgently requires reflection in the definition of best practices to inspire and upgrade both existing and planned biogas energy projects.
Record ID
Keywords
anaerobic digestion plants, biogas, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, energy transition, preferences, rural change
Subject
Suggested Citation
Martinát S, Chodkowska-Miszczuk J, Kulla M, Navrátil J, Klusáček P, Dvořák P, Novotný L, Krejčí T, Pregi L, Trojan J, Frantál B. Best Practice Forever? Dynamics behind the Perception of Farm-Fed Anaerobic Digestion Plants in Rural Peripheries. (2023). LAPSE:2023.14288
Author Affiliations
Martinát S: Social, Economic and Geographic Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, 8, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Social and Economic Geography and Spatial Management, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzi [ORCID]
Chodkowska-Miszczuk J: Department of Urban and Regional Development Studies, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun, Poland [ORCID]
Kulla M: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Navrátil J: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Social and Economic Geography and Spatial Management, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-205 Sosnowiec, Poland [ORCID]
Klusáček P: Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University, Třída Generála Píky 2005/7, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Dvořák P: Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Novotný L: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia [ORCID]
Krejčí T: Department of Environmental Security, Faculty of Logistics and Crisis Management, Tomas Bata University, Studentské nám. 1532, 686 01 Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Pregi L: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Trojan J: Department of Environmental Security, Faculty of Logistics and Crisis Management, Tomas Bata University, Studentské nám. 1532, 686 01 Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Frantál B: Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Chodkowska-Miszczuk J: Department of Urban and Regional Development Studies, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun, Poland [ORCID]
Kulla M: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Navrátil J: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Social and Economic Geography and Spatial Management, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-205 Sosnowiec, Poland [ORCID]
Klusáček P: Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University, Třída Generála Píky 2005/7, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Dvořák P: Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Novotný L: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia [ORCID]
Krejčí T: Department of Environmental Security, Faculty of Logistics and Crisis Management, Tomas Bata University, Studentské nám. 1532, 686 01 Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Pregi L: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Trojan J: Department of Environmental Security, Faculty of Logistics and Crisis Management, Tomas Bata University, Studentské nám. 1532, 686 01 Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Frantál B: Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
15
Issue
7
First Page
2533
Year
2022
Publication Date
2022-03-30
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en15072533, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.14288
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https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072533
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