Circular Economy Practices in Biomass-Fired Power Plants in Brazil: An Assessment Using the ReSOLVE Framework

Juliana Araújo Pereira, Flávio José Simioni (), Juliana Ferreira Soares, Jeane de Almeida do Rosário, Eduardo Bertol, Fabio Murilo Padilha Souza and Luiz Moreira Coelho Junior
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Juliana Araújo Pereira: Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luis de Camões, 2090, Lages 88520-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Flávio José Simioni: Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luis de Camões, 2090, Lages 88520-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Juliana Ferreira Soares: Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luis de Camões, 2090, Lages 88520-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Jeane de Almeida do Rosário: Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luis de Camões, 2090, Lages 88520-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Eduardo Bertol: Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luis de Camões, 2090, Lages 88520-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Fabio Murilo Padilha Souza: Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luis de Camões, 2090, Lages 88520-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Luiz Moreira Coelho Junior: Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Paraíba, Brazil

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: This study aimed to identify the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices at thermoelectric power plants (TPPs) fueled by forest biomass in Brazil and determine the degree of implementation; social, environmental, and economic impacts; motivations; challenges; and facilitating factors for the adoption of such practices. Data were collected through a questionnaire applied to a sample of 32 TPPs in Brazil employing the ReSOLVE framework from October 2023 to January 2024. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with the assignment of scores, and principal component analysis. The results indicate that optimization practices are the most widespread (6.7) and sharing practices were the least adopted (4.0). The greatest motivators for adopting CE practices are promoting sustainability (9.5) and enhancing corporate image (9.5). One of the most relevant positive impacts of such practices is the improvement in social relations between companies and the community (9.1). A major challenge to CE adoption is government neglect, whereas certification systems constitute one of the major facilitators (with 20 indications). This study provides indicators for decision-makers in the private sector and public managers interested in promoting sustainable practices in the renewable energy industry.

Keywords: renewable energy; forest residues; forest biomass; circularity; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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