1. Innovative products and markets for sustainable growth
Dr. agr. Elke Knappe
Leibniz-Institute for Regional Geography, Leipzig
Session 2:
Innovative products and markets for sustainable growth
Deckblatt
Moving to a low carbon economy

2. Pros and Cons of different sources
potential
efficiency
Environ-mental effects
Regional effects
water
high
High/
middle
low
Wind
sun
wood
biogas

3. The Aim: low carbon economy
Renewable energy sources:
Water, sun, wind
Wood, plants, organic residues, waste

5. Biomass as a local resource and part of regional economic cycles

6. Rural areas: Renewable energy sources
Structural changes Diversification
Competition Regional economy cycles
Low income Higher income
Less attractiveness Innovation
Shrinking villages Employment

7. Wood
Tradional use
New: Short –time-plantations
(1 Millon ha field set aside)
Problems: Competition
Many owners with very small plots

8. Biogas Innovative, good profit Many different products
Problem: use of heat
New: Biomethan

9. Conclusions Importance of renewable energy sources seems clear but:
Lack of information in rural areas
Support systems not homogeneous
Weak international cooperation
Role of innovation
Knowledge transfer

10. Network RegioSustain First results: Planning of a new power plant (wood pellets) in the „Little triangle“