Assessing the Sustainability of Agricultural Bioenergy Potential in the European Union

Gabriela Ignat, Lilia Șargu (), Ioan Prigoreanu (), Nicu Șargu, Andrian Ulinici and Gabriela Daniela Bordeianu
Additional contact information
Gabriela Ignat: Department of Agroeconomy, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Lilia Șargu: Department of Economy and Tourism, Faculty of Economics, University of European Studies of Moldova, 2069 Chisinau, Moldova
Ioan Prigoreanu: Department of Agroeconomy, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Nicu Șargu: Faculty of Finance, ASEM Doctoral School, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, 2005 Chisinau, Moldova
Andrian Ulinici: Department of Economy and Tourism, Faculty of Economics, University of European Studies of Moldova, 2069 Chisinau, Moldova
Gabriela Daniela Bordeianu: Teaching and Research Department, Faculty of Economics, Law and Administrative Sciences, University “George Bacovia” Bacău, 96, Pictor Aman St., 600164 Bacău, Romania

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-25

Abstract: The present study aims to assess the sustainability of bioenergy potential from agriculture in the European Union in the period 2012–2021, with a particular focus on material flow and emissions management, bioenergy and recycling impacts, while assessing the potential of bioenergy from agriculture and analyzing the degree of self-sufficiency and import dependency in the biomass economy. While biomass has significant potential in the EU energy transition, its use is accompanied by challenges related to sustainability, carbon neutrality, efficiency and economic viability. Using a quantitative approach based on official statistical data, this research tracked the evolution of biomass imports, exports, domestic extraction and consumption, providing a comprehensive picture of the stability and adaptability of the biomass economy in the European Union. The results indicate a steady increase in domestic extraction and a stability in consumption, reflecting a high capacity of the European Union to manage biomass resources; thus, the degree of self-sufficiency has been high throughout the period, with a moderate dependence on imports, showing an adaptable economy. The conclusions suggest that in order to maintain this stability, the European Union must continue to develop balanced economic and environmental policies that support the sustainable use of biomass and contribute to the energy transition and environmental objectives.

Keywords: biomass; sustainability; energy transition; self-sufficiency; circular economy (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/19/4879/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/19/4879/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:19:p:4879-:d:1488320

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().