The Social Aspects and Public Acceptance of Biomass Giving the Example of a Hungarian Region

Abstract

Biomass energy sources are the most promising, and most heavily subsidized renewable energy sources. The future of biomass energy in the global energy system depends on on many major factors, among others on the attitude of society to the biomass energy and the renewable energy resources. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the opportunities of utilization of biomass energy sources giving example of a Hungarian study area furthermore to study the public acceptance of renewable energy sources in a certain region. The study aims to explore the general knowledge, innovative attitude, acceptance and willingness of application as well as the estimation of the benefits of the use of RES within the inhabitants. Data collection has carried out by primary (questionnaire survey) and secondary ways in order to gain deep information from the target group (local people). The conclusion we can drawn from the analysis is that society take the biomass energy into consideration and its importance and responsibility is increasing. As far as the consciousness is concerned, the knowledge and the environmental friendly approach of inhabitants are also sufficient.

Attitude toward and Awareness of Renewable Energy Sources: Hungarian Experience and Special Features

“…In their research in 2013, Bujdosó et al carried out a survey on the social acceptance and awareness of renewable energy sources. According to the questionnaire-based survey, similarly to the conclusions drawn in other countries, solar energy, wind energy, and hydropower were found to be the most well-known renewable energy sources, with more than 90% of respondents admitting awareness of them [61]. The survey also covered the most important benefits of RES, of which environmental aspects were mentioned in the largest proportion (87.72%).…”

“…According to self-reports of Hungarian respondents, the awareness of solar energy (97.5%) is similar, but wind and hydropower are better known compared to international experience. In Hungary, solar, wind, and hydropower also used to be the best known renewable energy sources, known to more than 90% of the respondents [61]. Compared to the Hungarian survey above, awareness of geothermal energy has decreased over the past 6 years, while awareness of biogas has increased in Hungary, despite its importance in the energy mix, which is probably due to development trends.…”

Social and economic possibilities for the energy utilization of fitomass in the valley of the river Hernád

“…These factors partly result in the fact that city dwellers usually have more substantive information about renewable energy resources than those living in the countryside. However, the population of the rural areas have much better access to the natural resources and the local energy production can be realized easier at the individual and settlement level partly because of the smaller consumer sizes [32,33].…”

The involvement of stakeholders in the decarbonization process in the coal region of Northern Hungary

“…Replacing coal with more environmentally sustainable energy decarbonization is an important step in mitigating global climate change (Baros, Bujdosó, Kovács, Patkós & Radics, 2012). Some European countries have already exported coal (Belgium) or are phasing out coal from electricity generation by 2025 at the latest (Austria, Hungary, France, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, UK).…”