Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Central Europe: Ethical Overlaps of Environmental and Economic Interests in Coming Years

  • Opinion
  • Published:
Science and Engineering Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the size and thanks to the rich brown coal reserves, the Czech Republic is one of the leading energy producers in Europe, and the 7th biggest exporter of electricity in the world. However, following the climate change mitigation, the novel energy policy that enhances the reduction of coal mining is about to be implemented. A preliminary material flow analysis of the Czech energy sector was carried out. The data obtained confirmed that this government act would result in a dramatic reduction of revenues from electricity sales. Conversely, increased costs would be necessary in order to modernize nuclear power plants and promote the production of renewable energy. In addition, the economic analysis revealed that the act might be prejudicial to economic relations in Central and Western-European countries as some of them are significantly dependent on the electricity imported from the Czech Republic. Disputes between engineers and politicians were highlighted. The aforementioned interrelations were subsequently analyzed and a conclusion was made stating that global interests should have the highest moral priority.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atilgan, B., & Azapagic, A. (2016). An integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of electricity generation in Turkey. Energy Policy, 93, 168–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya, M., Paramati, S. R., Ozturk, I., & Bhattacharya, S. (2016). The effect of renewable energy consumption on economic growth: Evidence from top 38 countries. Applied Energy, 162, 733–741.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunner, P. H., & Rechberger, H. (2004). Practical handbook of material flow analysis. Boca Raton, FL: CRC/Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgholzer, B., & Auer, H. (2016). Cost/benefit analysis of transmission grid expansion to enable further integration of renewable electricity generation in Austria. Renewable Energy, 97, 189–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cansino, J. M., Pablo-Romero, M. D. P., Román, R., & Yñiguez, R. (2011). Promoting renewable energy sources for heating and cooling in EU-27 countries. Energy Policy, 39(6), 3803–3812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Černoch, F., & Zapletalová, V. (2015). Hinkley point C: A new chance for nuclear power plant construction in central Europe? Energy Policy, 83, 165–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frantál, B., & Nováková, E. (2014). A curse of coal? Exploring unintended regional consequences of coal energy in the Czech Republic. Moravian Geographical Reports, 22(2), 55–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frélichová, J., Vačkář, D., Pártl, A., Loučková, B., Harmáčková, Z. V., & Lorencová, E. (2014). Integrated assessment of ecosystem services in the Czech Republic. Ecosystem Services, 8, 110–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gass, V., Schmidt, J., Strauss, F., & Schmid, E. (2013). Assessing the economic wind power potential in Austria. Energy Policy, 53, 323–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hašková, S. (2017). Holistic assessment and ethical disputation on a new trend in solid biofuels. Science and engineering ethics, 23(2), 509–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jehličková, B., & Morris, R. (2007). Effectiveness of policy instruments for supporting the use of waste wood as a renewable energy resource in the Czech Republic. Energy Policy, 35(1), 577–585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolář, L., Kužel, S., Peterka, J., Štindl, P., & Plát, V. (2008). Agrochemical value of organic matter of fermenter wastes in biogas production. Plant, Soil and Environment, 54(8), 321–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopáček, J., & Veselý, J. (2005). Sulfur and nitrogen emissions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from 1850 till 2000. Atmospheric Environment, 39(12), 2179–2188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koptíková, L., Hladil, J., Slavík, L., Čejchan, P., & Bábek, O. (2010). Fine-grained non-carbonate particles embedded in neritic to pelagic limestones (Lochkovian to Emsian, Prague Synform, Czech Republic): Composition, provenance and links to magnetic susceptibility and gamma-ray logs. Geologica Belgica, 13, 407–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mardoyan, A., & Braun, P. (2015). Analysis of Czech subsidies for solid biofuels. International Journal of Green Energy, 12, 405–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J. (2013a). Study on commercial scale steam explosion of winter Brassica napus straw. International Journal of Green Energy, 10(9), 944–951.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J. (2013b). Use of continuous pressure shockwaves apparatus in rapeseed oil processing. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 15(4), 721–725.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J. (2014). Novel technique to enhance the disintegration effect of the pressure waves on oilseeds. Industrial Crops and Products, 53, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., Hašková, S., Zeman, R., Váchal, J., & Vaníčková, R. (2014). Nutrient management in processing of steam exploded lignocellulose phytomass. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 37(11), 1945–1948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., Hašková, S., Zeman, R., Vaníčková, R., Maroušková, A., Váchal, J., et al. (2015a). Techno-economic assessment of processing the cellulose casings waste. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 17, 2441–2446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., Hašková, S., Zeman, R., Žák, J., Vaníčková, R., Maroušková, A., et al. (2016). Polemics on ethical aspects in the compost business. Science and Engineering Ethics, 22(2), 581–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., Itoh, S., Higa, O., Kondo, Y., Ueno, M., Suwa, R., et al. (2012). The use of underwater high voltage discharges to improve the efficiency of Jatropha curcas L. biodiesel production. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry, 59(6), 451–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., & Kwan, J. T. H. (2013). Use of pressure manifestations following the water plasma expansion for phytomass disintegration. Water Science and Technology, 67(8), 1695–1700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., Maroušková, A., Myšková, K., Váchal, J., Vochozka, M., & Žák, J. (2015b). Techno-economic assessment of collagen casings waste management. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 12, 3385–3390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroušek, J., Vochozka, M., Plachý, J., & Žák, J. (2017). Glory and misery of biochar. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 19(2), 311–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marques, A. C., & Fuinhas, J. A. (2012). Are public policies towards renewables successful? Evidence from European countries. Renewable Energy, 44, 109–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novák, V., Vokoun, M., Stellner, F., & Vochozka, M. (2016). Institutional analysis of contemporary regional labour market in the Czech Republic. E+M Ekonomie a Management, 19(3), 4–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odeh, N. A., & Cockerill, T. T. (2008). Life cycle analysis of UK coal fired power plants. Energy Conversion and Management, 49, 212–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Průša, J., Klimešová, A., & Janda, K. (2013). Consumer loss in Czech photovoltaic power plants in 2010–2011. Energy Policy, 63, 747–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieder, M., Crelling, J. C., Šustai, O., Drábek, M., Weiss, Z., & Klementová, M. (2007). Arsenic in iron disulfides in a brown coal from the North Bohemian Basin, Czech Republic. International Journal of Coal Geology, 71(2), 115–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smrčka, L. (2011). Photovoltaics in the Czech Republic-example of a distorted market. In 6th IASME/WSEAS international conference on energy and environment (pp. 378–383).

  • Spath, P., Mann, M., & Kerr, D. (1999). Life cycle assessment of coal-fired power production. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Swider, D. J., Beurskens, L., Davidson, S., Twidell, J., Pyrko, J., Prüggler, W., et al. (2008). Conditions and costs for renewables electricity grid connection: Examples in Europe. Renewable Energy, 33(8), 1832–1842.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valle-Zermeño, R., Formosa, J., & Chimenos, J. M. (2015). Wet flue gas desulfurization using alkaline agents. Reviews in Chemical Engineering, 31, 303–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Wees, M. T., Uyterlinde, M. A., & Maly, M. (2002). Energy efficiency and renewable energy policy in the Czech Republic within the framework of accession to the European Union. Energy, 27(11), 1057–1067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vokoun, M. (2016a). The economics and politics of process innovation and the sustainable urban development. Procedia Engineering, 161, 2229–2233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vokoun, M. (2016b). Innovation behaviour of firms in a small open economy: The case of the Czech manufacturing industry. Empirica, 43(1), 111–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vokoun, M., Polanecký, L., & Stellner, F. (2015). The impact of the recent economic crisis on the food industry in the Czech and Slovak Republic. Procedia Economics and Finance, 34, 142–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, L. A., Kemp, S., & Williams, I. (2011). ‘Carbon footprinting’: Towards a universally accepted definition. Carbon Management, 2(1), 61–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Würzburg, K., Labandeira, X., & Linares, P. (2013). Renewable generation and electricity prices: Taking stock and new evidence for Germany and Austria. Energy Economics, 40, 159–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J., Hong, J., Song, Z., Wang, Q., Zhao, X., & Ma, C. (2015). Cost combined life cycle assessment of lignite-based electricity generation. Fuel, 159, 666–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice, Okružní 517/10, 370 01, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Zdeněk Caha

Authors
  1. Zdeněk Caha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zdeněk Caha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Caha, Z. Central Europe: Ethical Overlaps of Environmental and Economic Interests in Coming Years. Sci Eng Ethics 24, 1801–1807 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9982-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9982-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation