University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

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adjusted to the specific conditions of the respective production system (climate and
topology, feedstock, production technology, final application). McComick and
Kåberger (2007) underline that supply chain management and co-ordination is most
important when introducing bio-energy systems. The whole supply network has to be
actively integrated thus realising synergies and meeting the needs of all supply chain
actors. In terms of activities, harvesting, refining and transporting of biomass are key
issues, which must be facilitated by supply chain and operations management as well
as the adoption of most adequate technologies. Berglund (2006) points to costly
transport to centralised biogas plants and high costs for cultivating energy crops as
possible barriers for realising the full potential of biogas energy production.
Functioning SCM systems, proactively managed relationships, and long-term
contracts may turn out to be essential for encouraging farmers to invest in energy
crops (McComick & Kåberger 2007).
These considerations confirm the high relevance of SCM and logistics issues for the
implementation of bio-energy production systems and hence make this topic a
suitable subject for a research literature review. The extant paper reviews and
assesses systematically a sample of papers dealing with this subject, published in
English-speaking peer-reviewed journals. Thus, it aims at contributing to structure
the field at the interface of bio-energy production and supply chain management
(SCM) and it intends to identify most relevant issues.
The structure of the paper is as follows: after defining basic terminology, the
methodology of a literature review is outlined. The sample of papers are assessed
according to the topic, research method, feed stock, technology, energy end
application, part of supply chain under examination as well as issues and challenges
in the context of bio-energy chains. Subsequently the findings are discussed against
the backdrop of bio-energy as sustainable renewable energy option.
Sustainability, Logistics Management, Supply Chain
Management and Bio – Energy - Terms and Definitions
The Brundtland Commission shaped one of the most well-known definitions of
sustainability, highlighting the equal right of present and future generations to meet
their respective needs. (WCED 1987). Elkington (1997) posits the integration of the
intensely interrelated economic, ecological and social aspects of sustainability in a
“triple-bottom line”. Also Dyllick and Hockerts (2002) point to the three facets of
sustainability, conceiving corporate sustainability as the business case (economic),
the natural case (environmental), and the societal case (social).
Biomass comprises wood, agricultural residues, energy crops, human and animal
excrement as well as industrial and municipal bio-degradable waste (Allen et al.
1998). Bio-fuels are solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels based on biomass. Bio-energy is
defined as energy (heat, electricity, gas, transport fuels) from bio-fuels (McComick
& Kåberger 2005).
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) defines logistics
management as “that part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and
controls the efficient, effective forward and reverses flow and storage of goods,