Sustainable energy requires integrated policies

摘要

Bioenergy is solar energy stored in biomass. A variety of technologies and many people are needed to access that bioenergy. However, if energy is the main focus in project development, projects often appear uneconomical because the broader benefits, such as sustaining rural communities or improving farming practices, are not included in the balance sheet. This paper explores why the bioenergy industry requires sustainable planning to be able to develop to any large extent. It examines 'straight-line thinking' methods and why it is difficult to develop sustainable practices within straight-line methods. It concludes that a new concept of 'plug board' organisation is needed to provide sustainable bioenergy development within today's systems of doing business.