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HåBiMet – Social perspective
Vinnova Reference number: 2024-02868
Project duration: 2024.11.01 — 2025.06.30
Coordinator: Swerim
The HåBiMet – Social perspective project explored the social conditions for developing a sustainable supply chain for metallurgical biocarbon in Sweden, with a focus on social acceptance and skills supply. The results show that social acceptance is currently not a major barrier. Most stakeholders are positive when the role of biocarbon in fossil-free metal production is understood. However, acceptance is sensitive to factors such as competition for biomass, lack of knowledge, and public perceptions, meaning that clear communication and stakeholder engagement are essential.
The project also found that the supply of skills is generally sufficient today, but future expansion will require cross-sector competence development, particularly in areas such as biocarbon quality, process optimisation, and safe handling. Increased collaboration between sectors such as metallurgy, forestry, and energy will be crucial.
Key challenges identified include lack of standardisation, limited coordination between actors, and insufficient knowledge sharing, which may slow down market development and reduce trust in the emerging industry. At the same time, the project highlights significant opportunities, including regional development, job creation in rural areas, and industrial symbiosis, for example, through integration with district heating systems.
Overall, the project concludes that while the social conditions for metallurgical biocarbon are promising, proactive efforts in communication, collaboration, competence development, and safety practices are needed to ensure long-term success and societal benefits in the transition to a fossil-free industry.
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