Renewable energy for the rural areas: self-sufficiency or a new economic branch?

The paper is discussing the role of energy production from renewable sources in the rural areas of Central Europe, the South-Moravian Region (Czechia) being the case study area. Based on this example the problems with the use of water, wind, sun, geothermal and biological sources for the energy production are illustrated. The environmental, technological, economic and social aspects of the matter are discussed. It was concluded that the use of renewable sources for decentralised energy production and consumption is strongly recommended for the rural areas. Concerning the mass production, the use of the biological sources seems to be meaningful. In the case of other sources, rural communes should be careful taking into account an environmental and economic impact and also the acceptance of local inhabitants.