Social Dimensions of Sustainable Energy Management

Kármán-Tamus, Éva – Pálvölgyi, Tamás

Keywords: energy poverty, firewood use, sustainability, rural development, Q01, Q23, Q56

In Hungary, solid biomass, mainly wood, is the most widespread household fuel, especially among the poorest. Our research goal is the sustainability analysis of the utilization of household solid biomass. In our study, we analyse in detail the social issues related to firewood and energy poverty, i.e. the related issues of the complex topic of “sustainability – rural areas - poverty”, and we review the policy environment and make legislative and strategic proposals. According to our research, household electricity and natural gas prices are not the main causes of energy poverty. The energy-poor population typically uses biomass-based heating methods. This method of heating is widespread mainly in the rural areas of Hungary. The trends in the use of firewood in Hungary are determined by the fact that the price of natural gas has been disconnected from price of firewood since 2015, which leads to the inability of approximately 1 million families to break out of the problematic use of firewood. Solid biomass is considered a renewable energy source, but its use poses a number of hidden environmental problems. Its production and transport are associated with significant material and energy needs that are difficult to assess in the long term, and the use is also a significant problem for urban air quality and environmental risks, even on a European scale. Based on our results above, we can conclude that the public opinion that wood burning is harmless and even environmentally friendly is wrong. In order to solve the complex problem presented, it is essential to coordinate social, energy and climate policies, in which local governments can play a key role. We see a need to develop a rural development strategy that focuses on the development of sustainable energy systems in rural areas.