Positioning Bio-Based Energy Systems in a Hypercomplex Decision Space—A Case Study

Judit Oláh, József Popp, Szabolcs Duleba, Anna Kiss and Zoltán Lakner
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Judit Oláh: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
József Popp: College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
Szabolcs Duleba: Department of Transport Technology and Economics, Faculty of Transportation Engineering and Vehicle Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
Anna Kiss: Department of Science Policy and Scientometrics, Library and Infromation Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
Zoltán Lakner: Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Szent István University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-23

Abstract: The optimization of the energy portfolio for a small, open, landlocked economy with rather limited fossil resources is a complex task because it must find a long-range, sustainable balance between the various goals of society under the constant pressure of different interest groups. The opinions of independent, informed experts could be an essential input in the decision-making process. The goal of this research was to determine the relative importance of the values and goals potentially accompanying projects, based on the utilization of bioenergy. The current research is based on a wide-ranging survey of 65 non-partisan experts, applying the Pareto analytic hierarchy process to ensure the unbiased prioritization of project segments. The results of the survey put a spotlight on the importance of the economic role of bioenergy projects. Contrary to previous expectations and considerations, the social functions of these projects have hitherto been given relatively little importance. The results highlight the importance of bioenergy in increasing the income-generating capacity of agricultural producers by optimal utilization of natural resources for agricultural production. This can be achieved without considerable deterioration of the natural environment. Modern agricultural production is characterized by high levels of mechanization and automatization. Under these conditions, the social role of bioenergy projects (job creation) is rather limited.

Keywords: analytic hierarchy process; bibliometrics; complex decision making; environmental policy; Pareto algorithm; strategy formation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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