This document reports the findings from the techno-economic and sustainability assessment done in the project Circular cellulose to textile fiber production. The aim of the project has been to develop resource efficient processes for alternative cellulose feedstocks from residual streams to increase value for dissolving pulp, for e.g., textile fiber production. In this report, a techno-economic feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment were done to give an indication of the market relevance and climate impact of wheat straw and oat husk as raw materials for the production of dissolving pulp.
In light of the ever-increasing interest in hydrogen and number of hydrogen initiatives, there is a need to holistically approach the current business models for hydrogen and address how these can be strategically adapted to fit the future energy landscape of 2045, the year when Sweden has pledged to be climate neutral. The project has focused on hydrogen production, distribution and application in the transport sector, a fossil-dependent sector where hydrogen could play an important role in the decarbonization of the sector.The mapping of current business models for hydrogen in the transport sector shows a nascent and immature market, where the existing customer segments are within road transportation. The hydrogen actors are faced with major uncertainties concerning the market development and this requires them to collaborate closely with other actors along the entire value chain, including the pioneering customers. The customer value is fossil-free fuel, supplied to the customers. In 2045, the entire business model will be affected by external factors such as decarbonization of all sectors, the pace at which competing technologies develop, trends in the electricity price and, not least, by the possible expansion and upgrading of electricity and hydrogen distribution grids. These so-called boundary conditions, and the suggested layout for the future business models, could be used by hydrogen actors to make long-term strategic choices about how to develop their business model in the future.
Large investment volumes will be required for the hydrogen market to take off. Through interviews with investors, the investor perspective on the hydrogen business today and in 2045 has been highlighted. Investors who have invested in hydrogen today have a long-term perspective on the investment and do not expect high returns in the short term, but rather see hydrogen as a way to learn about a technology that is strategically important for the future. At the same time, most of the interviewed investors see hydrogen as a high-risk investment and limit its share of the portfolio. For hydrogen actors who need capital, it is important to understand which investor categories may be interested, how the investment is assessed and what risks investors see in the hydrogen business.