Sustainable Energy Autarky and the Evolution of German Bioenergy Villages

The concept of an autarky has a long history and meaning related to its negation and unpopularity. In liberal schools of economics, autarky is usually considered from the perspectives of economic trade protectionism, closed economies, and threats to welfare. Nevertheless, the concept of autarky has gained a new meaning, understood as the local utilization of renewable energy resources from the perspective of their inter- and intragenerational distribution. Local action is shaped by the global perspective. This research consists of three steps. First, a model of energy autarky has been offered based on the system theory. The model shows the variety of the structures and features of energy systems offered in today’s debates on energy autarky. Second, the key postulates of sustainable development have been presented to define an autarkical sustainable energy system. Finally, the concept of bioenergy villages in Germany has been presented to illustrate the approach to energy autarky. The research shows that the concept of autarky and single solutions, such as the use of renewable resources, are not themselves a success from the perspective of sustainable development; this misunderstanding is well illustrated by the evolution of the German concept of bioenergy villages into smart villages.