Agro-biomass to Biogas : Drivers and barriers in Sweden
2025 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 15 credits / 22,5 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Renewable alternatives like biogas are becoming more and more necessary as the world's energy needs continue to rise and climate worries grow. A concerted effort is underway in Sweden to use agro-biomass to increase biogas generation. The socioeconomic and environmental factors, obstacles, and tactics associated with the sustainable mobilization of agro-biomass in Sweden to increase biogas production are examined in this study. Qualitative data were gathered from surveys with 14 Swedish farmers and stakeholders, complemented by a stakeholder interview. Thematic analysis was used to organize the findings into categories of benefits, barriers, and strategies. The results indicate that sustainable farming practices and potential feedstocks, such as grassleys, straw from cereals and oilseeds, the incorporation of catch or cover crops, intermediate crops, and the adoption of sequential cropping systems, can significantly enhance biomass production. The study identified several motivating factors for stakeholders, with economic incentives and environmental considerations taking precedence, followed by government policies, energy efficiency, and biofertilizer digestate as an efficient manure. On the other hand, the primary obstacles revealed include environmental concerns such as land use, habitat loss, soil quality degradation, high costs, and the lack of adequate policy regulations. Accordingly, this study comes to the conclusion that although agro-biomass has a great deal of potential to increase Sweden's biogas output, realizing this potential would require the development of unified policies, efficient subsidies, and better stakeholder cooperation. As Sweden moves forward with its transition to renewable energy, this study emphasizes the crucial connection between theoretical promise and real-world difficulties, emphasizing the need for more precise regulations, financial incentives, and specialized assistance for farms.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. , p. 31
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-56415OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-56415DiVA, id: diva2:1969566
Subject / course
Environmental Science
Educational program
Master's Programme in Applied Environmental Science
Supervisors
Examiners
2025-06-232025-06-152025-10-01Bibliographically approved