Title:
Smart Regional Planning: Unlocking Innovative Resource Use and Economic Competitiveness - A Look at Biomass Energy Infrastructure Provision at Local Municipal Scale in eThekwini and iLembe, South Africa
Author(s):
Beires, L., Lincoln, G.M.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The sustainable generation and use of innovative energy alternatives continues to be the contested dominant discourse for municipalities and civil society. Key objectives for regional development planning are the need to support economic competitiveness, territorial cohesion and sustainability. In developing countries like South Africa, unemployment, poverty and inequality are key concerns. The current global context is one of climate change, dwindling and increasing costs of fossil fuels, growing urban populations and affordability challenges. In this context, unlocking innovative energy infrastructure at a regional scale has the potential to support competitive and affordable energy supply. The aim of the paper is to use regional planning concepts and tools to redefine traditional views on resource use in infrastructure provision with specific focus on biomass energy infrastructure. The paper aims to show the linkages between regional planning, competitiveness and infrastructure provision and the potential for sustainable, smart innovation options relating to energy provision. Place based regional planning literature is used to explore energy infrastructure provision through the unlocking of innovative resources using a case study of the neighbouring municipalities of eThekwini and ILembe. Global trends in municipal energy provision are identified, and contrasted with the South African legislative and policy context. The study is supported by a review of relevant documents, empirical evidence focussing on the dominant local sugar industry as a contributor to unlocking energy resource use for the region. The biomass resources and potential contribution were analysed, as well as the legislative issues that need to be addressed to unlock the biomass potential in the region.
Keywords:
biomass, innovation, competitive regionalism, sustainable energy infrastructure
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Resource efficient bioeconomy and social opportunities
Event:
25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.1.59
Pages:
1657 - 1672
ISBN:
978-88-89407-17-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/25thEUBCE2017-4AV.1.59
Price:
FREE
