Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Bioenergy—Global Coverage and Policy Implications

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Energy Security and Development

Abstract

Development of bioenergy systems is gaining momentum globally and bioenergy stakeholders are numerous and their perceptions are diverse. The study explored perceptions of bioenergy stakeholders by reviewing scholarly literature and complementing and validating them against primary data. The number of publications on stakeholders’ perceptions of bioenergy is increasing while geographical focus and stakeholder analysis vary considerably. Among the stakeholders, biomass producers, public, and experts are widely studied groups while the least explored are students and private developers. The majority of the studies have been conducted in North America and Europe, which indicate the importance of bioenergy in their energy policies and the role of stakeholders to influence bioenergy development in those countries. The study found that the stakeholders’ perceptions of bioenergy were not uniform and varied considerably even within a particular stakeholder group. More support for second- and third-generation biofuels is apparent compared to corn-based ethanol production. Factors such as age, gender, education, income level, and land ownership appear to influence stakeholders’ perceptions of bioenergy. The paper recommends raising awareness of bioenergy among different stakeholders and involving them while planning future bioenergy projects to improve their perceptions of bioenergy and reduce the chances of opposition. There is also a need for enhancing collaboration between renewable energy and educational policies so that young students become aware of bioenergy and can act as agents of change in our quest for renewable energies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acosta-Michlik L, Lucht W, Bondeau A et al (2011) Integrated assessment of sustainability trade-offs and pathways for global bioenergy production: framing a novel hybrid approach. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 15:2791–2809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilar F, Garrett HEG (2009) Perspectives of woody biomass for energy: survey of state foresters, State energy biomass contacts, and National Council of Forestry Association Executives. J For 107:297–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Amigun B, Musango JK, Brent AC (2011) Community perspectives on the introduction of biodiesel production in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Energy 36:2502–2508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Augustenborg CA, Finnan J, McBennett L et al (2012) Farmers’ perspectives for the development of a bioenergy industry in Ireland. GCB Bioenergy 4:597–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey JA, Gordon R, Burton D et al (2008) Factors which influence Nova Scotia farmers in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Energy 33:1369–1377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohlin F, Roos A (2002) Wood fuel supply as a function of forest owner preferences and management styles. Biomass Bioenergy 22:237–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claudy MC, Michelsen C, O’Driscoll A et al (2010) Consumer awareness in the adoption of microgeneration technologies: an empirical investigation in the Republic of Ireland. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:2154–2160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Convery I, Robson D, Ottitsch A et al (2012) The willingness of farmers to engage with bioenergy and woody biomass production: a regional case study from Cumbria. Energy Policy 40:293–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corner A, Venables D, Spence A et al (2011) Nuclear power, climate change and energy security: exploring British public attitudes. Energy Policy 39:4823–4483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delshad AB, Raymond L, Sawicki V et al (2010) Public attitudes toward political and technological options for biofuels. Energy Policy 38:3414–3425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devine-Wright P, Walker G, Hunter S et al (2007) An empirical study of public beliefs about community renewable energy projects in England and Wales. Working Paper 2: Community Energy Initiatives Project, pp. 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson T, Preston LE (1995) The stakeholder theory of corporation: concepts, evidence and implication. Acad Manag Rev 20:65–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwivedi P, Alavalapati JRR (2009) Stakeholders’ perceptions on forest biomass-based bioenergy development in the southern US. Energy Policy 37:1999–2007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) (2008). Public perceptions of renewable energy, New Zealand. http://www.eeca.govt.nz. Accessed 19 Aug 2012

  • Eurobarometer (2007) Energy technologies: knowledge, perceptions, measures. http://ec.europa.eu. Accessed 19 Aug 2012

  • Eurobarometer (2012) Energy for all: EU support for developing countries. http://ec.europa.eu. Accessed 19 Aug 2012

  • Freeman RE (2010) Strategic management: a stakeholder approach. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Gautam YB, Pelkonen P, Halder P (2013) Perceptions of bioenergy among Nepalese foresters—survey results and policy implications. Renew Energy 57:533–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruchy SR, Grebner DL, Munn IA et al (2012) An assessment of nonindustrial private forest landowner willingness to harvest woody biomass in support of bioenergy production in Mississippi: a contingent rating approach. For Policy Econ 15:14–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halder P, Pietarinen J, Havu-Nuutinen S et al (2010) Young citizens’ knowledge and perceptions of bioenergy and future policy implications. Energy Policy 38:3058–3066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halder P, Havu-Nuutinen S, Pietarinen J et al (2011) Bio-energy and youth: analyzing the role of school, home, and media from the future policy perspectives. Appl Energy 88:1233–1240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halder P, Prokop P, Chang C-Y et al (2012a) International survey on bioenergy knowledge, perceptions and attitudes among young citizens. BioEnergy Res 5:247–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Halder P, Weckroth T, Mei Q et al (2012b) Non-industrial private forest owners’ opinions to and awareness of energy wood market and forest-based bioenergy certification-results of a case study from Finnish Karelia. Energy, Sustain Soc 2:2–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Halder P, Arevalo J, Tahvanainen L et al (2014) Benefits and challenges associated with the development of forest-based bioenergy projects in India: results from an expert survey. Challenges 5:100–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall J, Matos S, Severino L et al (2009) Brazilian biofuels and social exclusion: established and concentrated ethanol versus emerging and dispersed biodiesel. J Cleaner Prod 17:77–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hultman NE, Malone EL, Runci P et al (2012) Factors in low-carbon energy transformations: comparing nuclear and bioenergy in Brazil, Sweden, and the United States. Energy Policy 40:131–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IEA (International Energy Agency-Energy) (2010) Bioenergy Annual Report 2010, Paris. http://www.ieabioenergy.com. Accessed 15 June 2012

  • Jensen K, Clark CD, Ellis P et al (2007) Farmer willingness to grow switchgrass for energy production. Biomass Bioenergy 31:773–781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen KL, Clark CD, English BC et al (2010) Willingness to pay for E85 from corn, switchgrass, and wood residues. Energy Econ 32:1253–1262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson DM, Halvorsen KE, Solomen BD (2011) Upper Midwestern U.S. consumers and ethanol: knowledge, beliefs and consumption. Biomass Bioenergy 35:1454–1464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keam S, McCormick N (2008) Implementing sustainable bioenergy production—a compilation of tools and approaches. http://www.iucn.org. Accessed 15 June 2012

  • Kohler SS, Mathieu JE (1993) Individual characteristics, work perceptions, and affective reactions influences on differentiated absence criteria. J Organ Behav 14:515–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leitch ZJ (2012) Private landowner intent to supply forest biomass for energy in Kentucky. Dissertation, University of Kentucky

    Google Scholar 

  • Magar SB, Pelkonen P, Tahvanainen L et al (2011) Growing trade of bioenergy in the EU: public acceptability, policy harmonization, European standards and certification needs. Biomass Bioenergy 35:3318–3327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markowski-Lindsay L, Stevens T, Kittredge DB et al (2012) Family forest owner preferences for biomass harvesting in Massachusetts. For Policy Econ 14:127–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattison EHA, Norris K (2007) Intentions of UK farmers toward biofuel crop production: implications for policy targets and land use change. Environ Sci Technol 41:5589–5594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield CA, Foster CD, Smith CT (2007) Opportunities, barriers, and strategies for forest bioenergy and bio-based product development in the southern United States. Biomass Bioenergy 31:631–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick K, Kåberger T (2007) Key barriers for bioenergy in Europe: economic conditions, know-how and institutional capacity, and supply chain co-ordination. Biomass Bioenergy 31:443–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick K (2010) Communicating bioenergy: a growing challenge. Biofuels Bioprod Biorefin 4:494–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrone M, Stuart BJ, McHenry I (2009) The challenges of biofuels from the perspective of small-scale producers in Ohio. Energy Policy 37:522–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyrud AQ, Roos A, Sande JB (2008) Residential bioenergy heating: a study of consumer perceptions of improved woodstoves. Energy Policy 36:3169–3176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oltra C (2011) Stakeholder perceptions of biofuels from microalgae. Energy Policy 39:1774–1781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens S, Driffill L (2008) How to change attitudes and behaviours in the context of energy. Energy Policy 36:4412–4418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panoutsou C (2008) Bioenergy in Greece: policies, diffusion framework and stakeholder interactions. Energy Policy 36:3674–3685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paula AL, Bailey C, Barlow RJ (2011) Landowner willingness to supply timber for biofuel: results of an Alabama survey of family forest landowners. South. J Appl For 35:93–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Pires ST (2011) Social perceptions of the biofuel industry in the Southeastern US. Dissertation, North Carolina State University

    Google Scholar 

  • Plate RR, Monroe MC, Oxarat A (2010) Public perceptions of using woody biomass as a renewable energy source. J Ext 48:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu M, Ahponen P, Tahvanainen L et al (2010) Chinese academic experts’ assessment for forest bio-energy development in China. Energy Policy 38:6767–6775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu M, Ahponen P, Tahvanainen L et al (2011) Chinese university students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding forest bio-energy. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 15:3649–3657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu M, Ahponen P, Tahvanainen L et al (2012) Practices and perceptions on the development of forest bioenergy in China from participants in national forestry training courses. Biomass Bioenergy 40:53–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rämö A-K, Järvinen E, Latvala T et al (2009) Interest in energy wood and energy crop production among Finnish non-industrial private forest owners. Biomass Bioenergy 33:1251–1257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins M (2011) Policy: fuelling politics. Nature 474:22–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohracher H, Späth P (2004) Improving the public perception of bioenergy in the EU. In: Martens B, Keul AG (eds) Evaluation in progress—strategies for environmental research and implementation. IAPS 18 Conference, Vienna, July 2004

    Google Scholar 

  • Savvanidou E, Zervas E, Tsagarakis KP (2010) Public acceptance of biofuels. Energy Policy 38:3482–3488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert R, Blasch J (2010) Sustainability standards for bioenergy—a means to reduce climate change risks? Energy Policy 38:2797–2805

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segon V, Støer D, Domac J (2004) Raising the awareness of bioenergy benefits: results of two public surveys on attitudes, perceptions and knowledge. http://www.ieabioenergy.com. Accessed 7 July 2012

  • Selfa T, Kulcsar L, Bain C et al (2011) Biofuels bonanza? exploring community perceptions of the promises and perils of biofuels production. Biomass Bioenergy 35:1379–1389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shivan GC, Mehmood SR (2010) Factors influencing nonindustrial private forest landowners’ policy preference for promoting bioenergy. For Policy Econ 12:581–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shivan GC, Potter-Witter (2011) An examination of Michigan’s logging sector in the emerging bioenergy market. For Prod J 61:459–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Stidham M, Simon-Brown V (2011) Stakeholder perspectives on converting forest biomass to energy in Oregon, USA. Biomass Bioenergy 35:203–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Susaeta A, Lal P, Alavalapati J et al (2011) Random preferences towards bioenergy environmental externalities: a case study of woody biomass based electricity in the Southern United States. Energy Econ 33:1111–1118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyndall JC, Berg EJ, Colletti JP (2011) Corn stover as a biofuel feedstock in Iowa’s bio-economy: an Iowa farmer survey. Biomass Bioenergy 35:1485–1495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulmer JD, Huhnke RL, Bellmer DD et al (2004) Acceptance of ethanol-blended gasoline in Oklahoma. Biomass Bioenergy 27:437–444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upham P, Shackley S (2007) Local public opinion of a proposed 21.5 MW(e) biomass gasifier in Devon: questionnaire survey results. Biomass Bioenergy 31:431–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velde LVD, Verbeke W, Popp M et al (2009) Perceived importance of fuel characteristics and its match with consumer beliefs about biofuels in Belgium. Energy Policy 37:3183–3193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velde LVD, Vandermeulen V, Huylenbroeck GV (2011) Consumer information (in) sufficiency in relation to biofuels: determinants and impact. Biofuels Bioprod Biorefin 5:125–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White RT (1988) Learning science. B. Blackwell, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Yu Y, Li T et al (2011) Analyzing Chinese consumers’ perception for biofuels implementation: the private vehicles owner’s investigating in Nanjing. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 15:2299–2309

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the cooperation by the Finnish NIPFs and the IFS officials who participated in the surveys. The authors are thankful to Barnali Sarkar for improving the language of the manuscript and the financial contribution received from the Institute for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (LYY) at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland. Finally, the postdoctoral research grant from the Kone Foundation (Helsinki, Finland) is also acknowledged for providing support to prepare the article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland

    Pradipta Halder & Javier Arevalo

  2. Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute, Ås, Norway

    Blas Mola-Yudego

  3. RECOFTC—The Center for People and Forests, Bangkok, Thailand

    David Gritten

Authors
  1. Pradipta Halder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Javier Arevalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Blas Mola-Yudego
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David Gritten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pradipta Halder .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    B. Sudhakara Reddy

  2. Parthenope University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy

    Sergio Ulgiati

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer India

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Halder, P., Arevalo, J., Mola-Yudego, B., Gritten, D. (2015). Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Bioenergy—Global Coverage and Policy Implications. In: Reddy, B., Ulgiati, S. (eds) Energy Security and Development. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2065-7_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2065-7_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2064-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2065-7

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation