“There is always a sense that there is much more we can do. There are many technological opportunities, a great deal of new research, and new feedstocks still to be explored. There is also significant scope for investment. The potential is enormous,” says Mats Eklund, Professor of Industrial Environmental Engineering at Linköping University and Director of the Biogas Solutions Research Center, BSRC.
At the same time, he emphasises the importance of patience and long term commitment.
“We may currently be in the midst of a very rapid transition, and perhaps we are underestimating its complexity. We often refer to three to five years as the future, but it may take longer for solutions to become widely established. Several participants at the conference raised this point. It comes down to how people think. It is not only about accepting the green transition, but also about wanting it. That takes time.”
Market conditions and competition
According to Mats Eklund, many of the challenges facing biogas are linked to general market dynamics and competition from other energy solutions.
“Overall, biogas is a strong option because it helps address several challenges at the same time, such as reducing emissions and improving waste management. It also results in valuable by products, such as biofertiliser. However, in many market segments there is often a simpler and cheaper alternative.”
Despite these challenges, he does not view the market as an insurmountable barrier.
“In Sweden, most conditions are favourable for the development of biogas, with the exception of relatively low fossil fuel prices. A market is essentially made up of the actors who participate in it. That means we are part of it, and we can influence how it develops.”
BSRC as a platform for collaboration
The Biogas Solutions Research Center is a national knowledge centre established to strengthen collaboration between academia, industry and public stakeholders.
“It is important to see BSRC as a shared platform. We need to continuously strengthen collaboration in both production and knowledge exchange. Too often, organisations try to solve challenges on their own because everyone is busy. We need to take a broader perspective and consider how we can engage more actively in each other’s projects. There are underused resources in both industry and research.”
Through its website, BSRC brings together research reports, doctoral theses and popular science publications, as well as information about innovation projects, collaborative initiatives and educational activities.
Evaluation and future development
“There is a large amount of knowledge available, as well as opportunities to establish new connections and initiate entirely new projects. From a research perspective, our doctoral students benefit greatly from closer interaction with industry. This increases both the relevance and the impact of the research.”
In 2025, the Swedish Energy Agency will evaluate BSRC in its role as a national centre of expertise. Current funding runs until 2026, and the evaluation will form part of the basis for a new five year programme period. The evaluation begins in April, the application is to be submitted in September, and a final decision will be made in June 2026.
“I encourage stakeholders to contribute insights and to take part in shaping the next five year plan. It is at an early stage that we have the greatest opportunity to influence how our work develops in the future.”
