Abstract

Contemporary environmental problems require a transition to renewable energy. Biogas is one alternative, which besides being renewable has many other benefits. For further expansion of biogas production, it seems necessary to develop new areas of biogas usage where biogas can replace fossil fuels. This article presents an analysis of the drivers for and barriers to increased biogas usage in three sectors where biogas usage is undeveloped in Sweden: manufacturing, road transport and shipping. Several of the identified drivers and barriers, such as unstable and short-term policies, lack of infrastructure, and contract requirements, have also been found in previous studies even though they may be slightly different depending on the context. A new driver observed in this study is that of intergenerational thinking in family-owned businesses. The study also reiterates the significant influence of policy in the form of subsidies, tax exemptions and regulations on the adoption and use of renewable energy in general and biogas specifically. The results suggest the need for future policymaking to be guided by long-term trajectories, which can be a relevant basis for adopters to make investments into biogas technologies.

摘要

当代环境问题需要向可再生能源过渡。沼气是一种替代方案，除了可再生之外，它还有许多其他好处。为了进一步扩大沼气生产，似乎有必要开发沼气可以替代化石燃料的新沼气使用领域。本文分析了瑞典沼气使用不发达的三个部门增加沼气使用的驱动因素和障碍：制造业、公路运输和航运。在先前的研究中也发现了一些已确定的驱动因素和障碍，例如不稳定和短期的政策、缺乏基础设施和合同要求，尽管它们可能会因具体情况而略有不同。本研究中观察到的一个新驱动因素是家族企业的代际思维。该研究还重申了补贴、免税和法规形式的政策对一般可再生能源特别是沼气的采用和使用的重大影响。结果表明，未来决策需要以长期轨迹为指导，这可以成为采用者对沼气技术进行投资的相关基础。