Title: Enablers and barriers of cooperative bioenergy production in the countryside: a case study

Authors: Kirsi Kokkonen, Tuomo Kassi

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: The paper clarifies the possibilities of cooperation and networking for small actors in the field of bioenergy production. The paper focuses on factors at three different environmental levels which may act either as enablers or barriers for the seizing of energy production opportunities and through the formation of partnerships and networks around them. The paper examines these aspects with a case of livestock breeders in Parikkala, a traditional rural municipality in Eastern Finland.

Keywords: cooperation; networking; entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; enablers; barriers; bioenergy production; cooperative production; cattle; livestock breeding; agriculture; breeders; farmers; farming; Parikkala; rural municipalities; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; countryside; biomass; Finland; renewable energy; opportunities; rural areas; exploitation; environmental levels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2010.034380

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2010 Vol.4 No.5, pp.427 - 450

Published online: 02 Aug 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article