Title: Connectedness and its dynamics in the Swedish biofuels for transport industry

Authors: Carolina Ersson; Jonas Ammenberg; Mats Eklund

Addresses: Environmental Technology and Management, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden ' Environmental Technology and Management, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden ' Environmental Technology and Management, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Abstract: Connectedness through cooperation with other sectors regarding feedstock, energy, products and by-products is important for environmental performance of industrial production. The aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of the level of connectedness in the Swedish biofuels for transport industry, involving producers of ethanol, biogas and biodiesel. In interviews, the CEOs of four important companies provided information about current strategies, historic and planned development. The production systems are dynamic and have changed significantly over time, including material and energy exchanges between traditionally separate industries. Interesting development was noted where revised business strategies have led to changed cooperation structures and thus altered material and energy flows. Fuel and raw material prices are very influential and all of the respondents said that political decisions to a large extent affect their competitiveness and emphasised the importance of clear long-term institutional conditions, ironically very much in contrast to the current situation within EU and Sweden.

Keywords: biofuels; biogas; ethanol; biodiesel; industrial ecology; symbiosis; synergies; material flows; energy flows; connectedness; resource efficiency; Sweden; transport industry; cooperation; political decisions.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2015.073416

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2015 Vol.9 No.3, pp.269 - 295

Received: 20 Jun 2014
Accepted: 31 Jan 2015
Published online: 02 Dec 2015 *

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