Making words into deed: Analyzing supply chains for bioenergy and factors for development in different regions

The Norwegian authorities have ambitious goals for bioenergy, and an increasing number of firms have in recent years started up activity in bioenergy. This is existing businesses as well as new entrepreneurial enterprises specially set up for bioenergy. S ome firms are small, others are large. How much of the supply chain the firms control varies. In small, local chains cooperating farmers ("Bondevarme") may control all stages from forestry to supply of heat e.g. through a local heat central. In larger, mo re regionally based chains forest owners may only do the forestry while various other enterprises take care of the rest of the supply chain, for example through district heating, further on to the customer(s). Even if the state supports bioenergy in diffe rent ways, the profitability in such activity is observed to be low. The conditions for bioenergy and the character of actors involved also vary between regions. In this project we will investigate the experiences of actors in small and medium sized suppl y chains in three specific forest regions (Western, Northern and Eastern Norway respectively). How do the various actors experience gains of engaging in this type of activity? How has the way of organizing implications for economy? What are the critical f actors for further development and supply of bioenergy? Has it to do with lack of raw material, logistics, quality and price of bioenergy products, or competition from other supply chains? Is the structure and design of state support adequate? Are regiona l variations worth considering when developing business and supply chains within bioenergy? The data will be obtained through case studies in the three regions. Selection of cases and results from the studies will be discussed with partners on the project . Specific competence building activities will be arranged on the project and will be coordinated with ongoing projects in the regions in the same period.