Interpreting regional and local diversities of the social acceptance of agricultural AD plants in the rural space of the Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic)

Agricultural anaerobic digestion plants have recently become a typical part of rural landscape in the Czech Republic due to massive governmental subvention programmes. Yet, their potential as an effective tool how to response to global climate changes at a local level is rather underused (maize used as a primary input mainly, usage of waste heat is limited, etc.). This situation is caused by misguided subvention policies. The aim of this contribution is first to analyse the agricultural anaerobic digestion plants in the rural space of the Moravian-Silesian Region, and second, to deepen the knowledge on the perception of the digestion plants among the population of municipalities in which such facility was constructed. A questionnaire survey has been carried out in three model municipalities (n = 369) located in the Moravian-Silesian Region. Several recommendations and notes for public administration and potential investors concerning the location of future anaerobic digestion plants projects and settings of supportive programmes have been defined.