Conference article

An increasing number of rural municipalities want to meet their entire energy demand with biomass. This article gives a system analytic view on these “bioenergy villages” by balancing pros (GHG reduction potential) and cons (costs) using the example of a model municipality in Germany. The results indicate that a 100 % energy supply based on biomass potentials within the boundaries of a rural municipality is technically possible but less reasonable with respect to land-use competition and costs of energy supply. Whereas heat and power demand in bioenergy villages can be covered WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE LAND and to relatively low costs; the production of transport fuels based on energy crops (rape seed) leads to significant negative impacts. For a cost-efficient decarbonization of rural areas it can therefore be recommended to particularly expand the utilization of biomass for heat and power production.

Rural supply concepts; sustainable energy; life cycle assessment