Title:
Social and Ethical Evaluation of Energy from Biomass
Author(s):
Duernberger, C., Formowitz, B., Grimm, H., Uhl, A., Zichy, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
A divisive debate about energy from biomass has been stimulated by different sides. It is of high importance to analyse whether the production of biomass for energy can be ethically sound and live up to sustainability criteria. In the first step of the interdisciplinary project, an Ethical Delphi was carried out. An interdisciplinary body of experts, including natural scientists, representatives of the humanities, decisionmakers, and agricultural practitioners, were invited to answer three stepwise questionnaires with open and closed questions on bioenergy. Generally, the experts agreed that biomass production for energy can substantially contribute to meet future energy demands. Nevertheless, they did not consider bioenergy as a universal remedy for energy scarcity, but rather as one element in a comprehensive portfolio of energy sources to ensure a sustainable energy provision on the local, national and international level. Overall, the project consists of three parts: the described Ethical Delphi, an “Ethical Matrix” and a “citizen conference”. In the next step of the project the results of the Ethical Delphi will be correlated with paradigmatic and normative concepts that influence the debate in order to create an “Ethical Matrix” tailored to bioenergy. After that, the results will be discussed in a “citizen conference”.
Keywords:
bioenergy, decentralised, social aspects, decentralized, Ethical Delphi
Topic:
Policies and ensuring sustainability
Subtopic:
Role of biomass in the European National Renewable Energy Action Plans
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP5.7.2
Pages:
2329 - 2333
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-VP5.7.2
Price:
FREE
