The development of renewable sources of energy is an important part of country’s diversified energy sector, which is immune to protect from energy price fluctuation and dependence on fossil fuel. In 2014, a new stage of Common Agricultural Policy development begins. The new Common Agricultural Policy will contribute to the implementation of the European Union strategy. It should be noted that Europe 2020 strategy identifies renewable sources of energy as an important element of sustainable development allowing the European Union to improve the use of rural resources. However, this research area in Lithuania is characterized by bare survey and fragmentary approach.
The paper is aiming at identifying the rational ways of the potential of utilizing the renewable sources of energy in Lithuanian rural areas, which are based on implemented research. The research is based on the analysis of scientific literature and information data, comparison, expert valuation, deduction and generalization methods.
The paper identifies two problems concerning identification of renewable sources of energy: selected classification and methodological approach of evaluating the potential. These problems are illustrated by the comparison of three selected researches and their outcomes. It is concluded that the results of the research on the potential of the development of renewable sources of energy in Lithuania could be used as a guideline of opportunities in rural areas and agriculture; however, rural areas can be treated as a specific target group. To obtain more detail situation of the development of renewable sources of energy in rural areas, the expert valuation method is applied.
The research is implemented on the basis of 56 experts’ opinion concerning the situation of renewable sources of energy in Lithuanian rural areas and agriculture. The interview with experts was selected as the most appropriate way to collect data about current problems and identify the main ways of its solution. The questions were grouped in five sections:
1) Evaluation of the importance of renewable sources of energy in Lithuania (situation and prospects);
2) Availability and payback of investments in renewable sources of energy in Lithuania;
3) Opportunities for the support of production of renewable sources of energy and energy use;
4) Impact of renewable sources of energy on Lithuanian agriculture and rural development;
5) Barriers of renewable energy development and use.
Summarising the results of expert valuation it should be noted that the success of developing the Lithuanian sector of renewable sources of energy is based on a clear position of the government (including identification of priorities for a specific kind of renewable sources of energy) and correspondence with sustainable development principles. The experts identified the lack of cooperation between scientists and business enterprises as an important problem. This kind of cooperation could be supported from the national budget and be used for organization of trainings, workshops, public discussions (with experts). The experts underlined the importance of creating the appropriate support mechanism (including well-timed control scheme). The support should be eligible only for sustainable development projects. It is also important to guarantee the future for such investments on a legal basis (e.g. to reglament connectivity, prices, etc.). An important aspect of the development of renewable sources of energy is education of rural community about the impact of renewable sources of energy on and their benefits in rural areas (e. g. employment, environmental aspects, etc.).
Keywords: village, rural development, renewable energy sources.
Droždz, J.; Jurkėnaitė, N. Lietuvos kaimo vietovių perspektyvos per atsinaujinančių išteklių energijos panaudojimo prizmę // Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos. ISSN 1648-9098. Nr. 4(24) (2011), p. 92-101 (Index Copernicus).
