International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (Mar 2013)
Theoretical Approach of A Possible Value-Added Chain in the Biomass Industry in Rural Areas Giving the Example of A Hungarian Microregion
Abstract
The future of biomass energy in the global energy system dependson many major factors, among others on the attitudeof society in rural areas to the biomass energy and the renewableenergy resources. Biomass energy plays increasing role in ruralareas with its contribution to the self sufficiency of people in thecountryside. The paper deals with the analysis the opportunitiesof utilization of biomass energy sources giving example of aHungarian study area and to study the possibilities of the cooperationand management regarding biomass industry in a certainrural region. Furthermore, the aims of this analysis are on theone hand to predict the potential renewable energy of the EgerMicro-region and on the other hand to research the theoreticalpossibilities of a value added chain in biomass industry. Themain conclusion of the paper is that economic benefits can belocally embedded through local distribution of profit generatedby sales of energy or financial benefits from energy saved by efficiencyactivities local training and employment opportunitiesand local shareholding. Furthermore shareholding can alsoinvolve individuals resident outside of the local community,forming part of a more spatially dispersed ‘community ofinterest’ involved in, and supportive of, the development.
