Identifying the determinants of biorefineries location in a core-periphery polarised Europe

Abstract

PurposeThe challenge posed by the new European bioeconomy strategy in support of green transition goals is significant and raises serious questions regarding its sustainability, from socio-economic, territorial and ecological perspectives. Such a strategy is indeed being implemented in a Europe divided between economically strong and weak areas and where regional divergences within countries have increased nearly everywhere. Considering this polarised context, the present paper investigates the determinants of biorefinery presence in Europe, adopting a core-periphery perspective.Design/methodology/approachSpatial analysis is employed to identify core and periphery regions at the NUTS2 level, and econometric estimates show that the factors determining biorefinery implementation differ between these regions.FindingsIn the core regions, socio-economic factors (e.g. higher income, education and social acceptability) are most significant, while in the periphery, agricultural and territorial determinants play a more prominent role. However, the differences between regions are mitigated when the sample is narrowed to focus on biorefineries with the greatest technological readiness.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, the determinants of biorefineries' presence in a territory is an under-explored topic. Moreover, the existence of core-periphery dynamics even within bio-based activities raises important questions and policy implications in ecological transition processes in Europe.