A Methodology for the Feasibility Assessment of Using Crop Residues for Electricity Production Through GIS-MCD and Its Application in a Case Study

Fernando Bruno Dovichi Filho (), Laura Vieira Maia de Sousa, Electo Eduardo Silva Lora, José Carlos Escobar Palacio, Pedro Tavares Borges, Regina Mambeli Barros, René Lesme Jaen, Marcelo Risso Errera and Quelbis Roman Quintero
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Fernando Bruno Dovichi Filho: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
Laura Vieira Maia de Sousa: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
Electo Eduardo Silva Lora: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
José Carlos Escobar Palacio: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
Pedro Tavares Borges: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
Regina Mambeli Barros: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
René Lesme Jaen: Excellence Group in Thermal Power and Distributed Generation, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil
Marcelo Risso Errera: Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80060-000, Brazil
Quelbis Roman Quintero: Grupo de Investigación Bioindustrias, Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola, Universidad de Sucre, Sincelejo 700001, Colombia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-29

Abstract: Over recent decades, human activities have essentially depended on fossil fuels. The last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports recommend a shift to renewables and a more energy-efficient economy. To fulfill the potential of bioenergy, tools are required to overcome the complexities of the decision-making processes for viable projects. This work presents a decision-making tool to select the most feasible biomass residues and a case study of the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. Among the 13 evaluated criteria, eucalyptus residues demonstrated the highest potential for electricity production, followed by sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks. The choice of Minas Gerais as a case study is important due to its diverse agricultural landscape and the potential for biomass residue generation. The presented methodology uses the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM). Thirteen criteria were required to enable the best choice of biomass residue alternatives for electricity generation, which experts in the bioenergy field evaluated. The technical criterion was shown to be the one with the highest degree of importance. The results of the study identified that CO 2eq emissions (11.46%) and electricity demand (ED) were the most relevant sub-criteria for prioritizing the viability of agricultural waste. Eucalyptus was ranked as the most promising biomass, followed by sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks. In addition, the use of GIS tools made it possible to map the regions with the greatest potential in Minas Gerais, providing a robust approach to identifying strategic sites for bioenergy.

Keywords: biomass energy; potential; Analytical Hierarchy Process; bioenergy; energy transition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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