| 1. |
- Zanatta, Hanna, 1993-, et al.
(författare)
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Biogas production in Brazil : Barriers and strategies for overcoming them
- 2024
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Addressing environmental challenges while improving social and economic conditions calls for innovative solutions. One of those challenges is the management of organic waste, which if left untreated can lead to water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil degradation. Brazil produces substantial amounts of organic waste due to its sizeable population and extensive agricultural production. As one of the largest economies in the Global South, the development of innovative solutions to organic waste management in Brazil can potentially pave the way for their adoption in other countries within the Global South. Biogas systems are solutions for organic waste treatment that simultaneously make use of the energy content, reduce gas emissions, and facilitate nutrient recycling. Nevertheless, their multifaceted nature also entails numerous barriers to their widespread implementation. Thus, this report explores the barriers to the development of biogas systems in Brazil and possible strategies to overcome these.Diverse data collection methods were used in the study. A literature review helped identified overall barriers to biogas systems development. This was followed by a field study in Brazil, involving visits to biogas facilities and interviews with stakeholders. The results were combined to understand the impact of the identified barriers across sectors. Finally, a workshop with Brazilian and Swedish stakeholders helped validate the findings and explore possible strategies to overcome barriers to biogas systems development.In the report barriers across eight categories are discussed, namely technological, economic, market, regulatory, cultural, environmental, network, and biomethane barriers. Technological barriers include lack of specialized knowledge, which leads to challenges in operation and maintenance of biogas reactors. Another type of technological barrier is limited access to infrastructure such as gas pipelines and sewage networks, which leads to technical challenges regarding both substrate supply and gas handling. High initial investments and funding accessibility are the most prominent economic barriers. Market barriers include competition with cheaper waste treatment solutions, lack of structured markets for biogas, and limited access to markets. The absence of a national biogas-specific policy, spatial diversity in state-level regulations; together with few and isolated incentives for biogas production are the major regulatory barriers. Cultural barriers include limited knowledge among society and substrate holders about biogas benefits, resistance to waste segregation practices, and sectoral structures hindering collaboration across the biogas value chain. Although environmental aspects of biogas systems are usually drivers to the implementation of biogas facilities, concerns such as gas leaks, odors, and soil contamination risks associated with poor facility design and performance are environmental barriers. Network barriers stem from limited platforms for discussion and interaction among actors, ultimately delaying the establishment of a unified national agenda for biogas development. Due to its characteristics, the production, distribution, and utilization of biomethane face additional challenges across various barrier categories, with major obstacles including uncertainties in grid injection contracts and infrastructure, as well as the expectation that biomethane prices should match those of natural gas.To overcome some of the barriers presented above, the study explored two strategies that could be pursued by actors interested in biogas systems development in Brazil. First, biogas cooperatives are proposed as one solution, allowing resource pooling for technology investment and enhanced biogas production. Second, dedicated biogas producers could play a crucial role,viparticularly in addressing financing challenges and ensuring efficient operation. Dedicated biogas producers could improve the technical efficiency and environmental performance of biogas facilities. Options for biogas utilization include electricity generation and biomethane production, with the latter offering tax benefits and reduced transportation costs when producers can use the biomethane for transportation themselves.The report highlights barriers across various dimensions and addresses strategies to overcome these barriers, such as biogas cooperatives and dedicated biogas producers. Future research could focus on testing these strategies in the Brazilian context through case studies, pilot projects, and collaborative initiatives to refine interventions and accelerate the adoption of biogas technologies.
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| 2. |
- Aliahmad, Abdulhamid, et al.
(författare)
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Urine recycling - Diffusion barriers and upscaling potential; case studies from Sweden and Switzerland
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 414
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, we explored why urine recycling systems have failed to gain wide-scale expansion despite their high potential for food and fertilizer security. Additionally, we examined the future perception of urine recycling in Sweden and Switzerland, as these two countries are at the forefront of technological advancement. Along with identifying barriers, we also proposed pathways for overcoming those barriers and achieving the upscale. The analysis was conducted using the technological innovation (TIS) approach, which is technology-focused, i.e., revolves around emerging technologies. Additionally, the study provides a methodological contribution to the innovation systems research by employing the Delphi method in conjunction with urine recycling experts to enforce transparency and prevent bias in the analysis. For urine recycling to overcome its current challenges, actors must work collectively. There needs to be a combination of top-down and bottom-up efforts to achieve the upscaling pathways. Lobbying and knowledge provision are necessary to adjust the current regulatory framework in a manner that provides public and private incentives. For urine recycling to diffuse and break into the mainstream market, we must move beyond enthusiasts, innovators, and niche markets into the mass market (ordinary people); dedicated service providers can facilitate this process. Pilot projects have been found integral to urine recycling upscaling. Future work could conduct life cycle assessments on existing pilot projects to understand the environmental and economic performance of urine recycling systems when scaled up.
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| 3. |
- Bank, Natasha, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainability Profiled Incubators - Procceses For Recruiting And Supporting Tenants
- 2015
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Since start-ups enterprises often have more room and flexibility for sustainability ideas in the early stages of business development incubators could be particularly important for introducing and developing sustainability thinking. Previous studies on incubators and the incubation processes in general are rather extensive in the literature. However, there are few studies particularly focusing on sustainability dimensions of incubators. In particular how incubators recruit and support start-ups in incorporating sustainability thinking into their core business idea or making their sustainability-oriented idea even more successful has received few research attention. With this gap identified in research and societal need for sustainability, research on green incubators is of timely interest. The latest report from the IPCC on climate change problem warns about the demand of sustainable business creation, which is critical to promote sustainable development. Entrepreneurship is at the heart of sustainable growth (Carayannis and Von Zedtwitz, 2005) and in that sense it is in the heart of sustainability development. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to investigate empirically the recruiting criteria of start-ups by three sustainability oriented incubators in Sweden, Finland and Germany in order to understand how they support sustainable entrepreneurship and eco-innovation.Following a literature review on “conventional” incubators, a sample incubator that works with sustainable start-ups in each country was chosen and studied by help of interviews with managers, stakeholders, tenants and managers at incubators in order to investigate deficits and potentials of the existing incubator support systems for sustainable entrepreneurship and eco innovation. The data used in the study comes from Green Tech Park (Sweden), LADEC (Finland) and Green Garage (Germany).From this study, our major implications are that, the studied incubators on average have an ambition to recruit and develop sustainability oriented start-ups, but a critical mass of such tenants is vital if any such ambitions are to become a reality. This critical mass of start-ups is very much influenced by the local context of the incubator, which generates both potential tenants and resources to support such firms in sustainability entrepreneurship and eco innovation. For incubator management, this suggests an active search for tenants interested in sustainable entrepreneurship and providing support focused on such activities.
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| 4. |
- Kanda, Wisdom, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Boosting eco-innovation : The role of public support organizations
- 2014
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Ingår i: XXV ISPIM Conference on Innovation for sustainable Economy and Society. - 9789522655912
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper uses a multidisciplinary and systematic review of 45 journal articles and two case interviews to investigate the role of public support organizations in the development of eco-innovations. Even though eco-innovations are regarded as a driving force within sustainable development, entrepreneurs developing such innovations face barriers such as lack of some technical expertise, limited financial, time and human resources. Generally, two aspects are needed for eco-innovation support i.e. support for technology as well as business development. The selected public support organizations offered business development support through networking, bridging and financing. However, preliminary findings on their current support activities indicate bridging to other actors who can provide technical expertise such as environmental impact assessment and eco-design could be a promising addition to business development. Potential further research includes deeper empirical investigations on the role of public support actors in the development of eco-innovations.
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| 5. |
- Kanda, Wisdom, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Components of business concepts for the diffusion of large scaled environmental technology systems
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 128, s. 156-167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Strategies for sustainable development are arguably part of the most discussed issues among political and corporate actors. These discussions are spurred by global challenges such as climate change, urbanization, and critical natural resource depletion. Sustainable development will require deep structural and wide-reaching changes in current institutions, technologies, and businesses. Furthermore, new approaches are needed to facilitate the development, diffusion, and implementation of environmental technologies. In the academic discourse different concepts, e.g., ecodesign and Product/Service System design, have been proposed within the framework of sustainable development. To deliver even more system-wide environmental improvements, these concepts have been challenged to be expanded in focus beyond products and services to include large technical systems encompassing non-technological dimensions. Motivated by these, the goal of this article is twofold. First, to offer an expanded view on ecodesign of product/service systems using a perspective of large technical systems. Second, to propose and discuss important components to consider when developing business concepts for the diffusion of large scaled environmental technology systems such as district heating supply, waste management, and renewable energy systems. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews and company documentation analysis, this study examines five companies that develop and diffuse large scaled environmental technology systems. As a result of these case studies, we propose components of business concepts that incorporate both technological and non-technological dimensions. Our proposed business concept components are: market (including regulation), finance, resources, activities, partnership (especially public-private partnership), ownership and responsibility, and legitimacy. Regulation, public-private partnership, and legitimacy are particularly important in the diffusion of large scaled environmental technology systems.
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| 6. |
- Kanda, Wisdom, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Design of business concept with environmental technology
- 2013
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In recent years, strategies for sustainable development are arguably among the most discussed issues among political, public and corporate actors. These discussions are spurred by major trends such as climate change, rapid urbanization, critical material and energy resource depletion. To facilitate sustainable development, deep structural and wide reaching changes seem needed in current technologies, infrastructure, businesses and institutions. In the academic discourse, different concepts, methods and tools, have been proposed and continue to be expounded within the framework of sustainable development. Notable among them include the concepts of ecodesign, and product and service systems design. These concepts have contributed to environmental improvements but have been challenged by critics to be expanded beyond products and services to include non-technological changes in order to deliver system wide environmental improvements.Departing from this background, the goal of this article is twofold, first to offer an expanded view on environmental conscious design of products and services with large scaled sociotechnical systems and then to propose and discuss important components to consider when developing business concepts based on large scaled environmental technology systems. In doing this, we offer a new way of describing business concepts based on large scaled environmental technology systems which incorporates non-technological dimensions such as meeting formal and informal expectations. We propose a set of components to consider when developing business concepts based on large scaled environmental technology offering. These components are: market (including regulations), finance, resources, activities, partnership (especially public-private partnership), ownership and responsibility, and legitimacy. Among these factors, regulation, public-private partnership, and legitimacy were found as particular for environmental technology diffusion.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Kanda, Wisdom, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Governmental export promotion initiatives : awareness, participation, and perceived effectiveness among Swedish environmental technology firms
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 98, s. 222-228
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Some countries rely heavily on exports as an essential component of their economic competitiveness. With the current trends in economic globalization, promoting exports has become a common strategy to boost economic growth. Exports of environmental technologies represent a new window of opportunity for economic growth and a contribution to global sustainability. With this in mind, national governments have designed initiatives that aim to promote exports within this sector. To address their objectives, governments provide initiatives to promote foreign commerce with their environmental technology sector. This article assesses the awareness, participation, and perceived effectiveness of such governmental initiatives to promote exports among Swedish environmental technology firms. An Internet survey was sent to 693 Swedish environmental technology companies, previously identified and classified, with a 25% response rate. The responses show a relatively high export orientation although a majority of the respondents claimed they were unaware of governmental initiatives that fit their particular export needs. The companies that did find appropriate governmental initiatives showed a high level of participation in such initiatives, but only a few of these participants could relate their participation to actual exports. The findings suggest there is a need to design support instruments based on the particular characteristics of the environmental technology sector rather than to offer generic solutions for such export promotion.
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| 9. |
- Kanda, Wisdom, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Intermediaries in sustainability transitions – differences and similarities of relevance for policy
- 2017
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sustainability transitions require changes in existing socio-technological systems. Authors have underlined the relevance of intermediaries in the design and implementation of policies intended to facilitate sustainability transition. Still, in the literature, the organizations or actors empirically examined as intermediaries are very diverse and the concept of intermediary is used interchangeably from context to context. There is a risk that policy makers face difficulties understanding differences among intermediaries. As a consequence, some intermediaries may be used for unfitting or unrealistic purposes. In this paper, we propose to identify the similarities and differences among intermediaries, which are relevant for policy design. We base our comparison on three main characteristics: intermediaries’ ownership and funding, their scope of action and the target recipients of their services. What emerged from our findings is that differences matter for intermediaries’ short-term or long-term orientation, actor-level or system-level focus, and demand-side or supply-side target. We end the paper by discussing the implications for policy design.
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| 10. |
- Kanda, Wisdom, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Promoting the export of environmental technologies : governmental initiatives in selected countries
- 2013
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Rapid international and widespread diffusion of environmental technologies remains an essential requirement within the framework of sustainable development. Export offers a desired means for technology diffusion due to its strategic flexibility compared to other means such as foreign direct investment and aid. However, the export of environmental technologies is stifled by market failures. Among other reasons and as a response to such market failures, several governments are formulating initiatives to promote the export of environmental technologies. Although diffusion promotion is highlighted as an important research focus, a systematic overview of governmental initiatives that aim to promote environmental technology export is not available in the literature. This gap in the literature makes it difficult to analyse program effectiveness, and identify best practices. Using documentation from export promotion and export credit agencies in eight selected countries across Asia, Europe, and North America, we discuss governmental initiatives that aim to promote the export of environmental technologies. Our synthesis reveals that governmental promotion can be categorised according to alternative promotional services and is applied across target country(ies), environmental technology type(s), firm size(s), and firm involvement in export. In addition, using theories from market failure and diffusion studies, we discuss similarities and differences between country initiatives. Trends indicate a focus on support for small and medium sized environmental technology exporters but interesting differences emerge with the choice of target markets, technologies, and the specific export promotion services.
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