Critical analysis of key barriers and challenges to the growth of the biogas sector: a case study for Romania
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Critical analysis of key barriers and challenges to the growth of the biogas sector: a case study for Romania Carmen Mateescu 1 & Andreea-Daniela Dima 1 Received: 8 July 2020 / Revised: 31 August 2020 / Accepted: 2 October 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Romania relies on a balanced mix of primary and renewable energy resources (biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar, and photovoltaic), evenly distributed across the country; it is one of the European country’s least dependent by energy imports. Biomass counts for the highest potential as a renewable energy source estimated at 318 PJ/year (7.6 Mtoe). Despite abundant bioresources availability, the biogas sector is very poorly developed; currently, the installed capacity of biogas projects is about 0.002% of the total installed capacity of renewable-based projects. This paper aims to analyze the key barriers that have impeded the development of the biogas sector in Romania, to identify corrective solutions, and draw remedial recommendations. The study indicates that the instability of the legal framework is the key barrier to the biogas sector growth in Romania, followed by financial obstacles, severe underfunding of the R&D budget, and poor communication between relevant stakeholders. Key recommendations have been proposed to overcome the obstacles, including ensuring a stable and consistent legislative framework, increasing funding in the research and innovation sector, and improving selective organic waste collection systems to facilitate feedstock supply. The study could be beneficial for policy-makers in adopting the best measures able to improve the current state and foster the biogas sector growth in the Romanian energy landscape. Keywords Biogas . Waste . Policy . Sustainable energy . Barriers
1 Introduction Promoting the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures are effective tools for the security of energy supply while providing environmental, social, and health benefits, as well as major opportunities for employment and regional development. According to the Directive 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, the increased use of energy from renewable sources constitutes one of the most important parts of the package of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with the European Union’s (EU) commitment under the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change [1]. Bioenergy is currently the main renewable energy source in the European Union, accounting for approx. 64% of renewable
* Andreea-Daniela Dima [email protected] 1
Department of Environment/Energy and Climate Change, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA, 313-Splaiul Unirii, 030138 Bucharest-3, Romania
energy consumption. It is also the most versatile of all renewable energy sources—it can be used for electricity and heat generation and as a green substitute for transport fuels [2]. Over the past decade, the energy and clima
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