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Barriers to sustainable biowaste-to-energy solutions: an analytical hierarchy process-based method analysis

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Abstract

In developing nations, a substantial amount of solid waste, predominantly organic material, is being disposed of in an unsustainable manner. Implementing bio-waste-to-energy (BTE) provides a renewable energy option alongside sustainable solid waste management. Several barriers are impeding the accomplishment of biowaste energy generation’s maximum potential. Thoroughly evaluating different generic barriers is essential for the optimal utilization of bioenergy. This study has identified sixteen potential generic barriers that hinder the implementation of BTE developments. These barriers can be classified into four dimensions: economic, technical, social, and institutional. In addition, a thorough evaluation and ranking of barriers is carried out using a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach to enhance the execution of BTE technology. In this study, one variant of MCDM, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), ranks generic barriers. The study results indicate that logistical issues and high initial investment put in first and second place, respectively, with respective weights of 0.127 and 0.121. Insufficient funding, lack of trained technicians, and investment reluctance have placed third, fourth, and fifth based on their weights of 0.100, 0.09, and 0.085 respectively. This research offers an in-depth analysis and theoretical framework for various stakeholders involved in the BTE process, to improve its sustainability as an alternative to conventional energy sources.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the personnel from BIET in Jhansi (India), HBTU Kanpur. BSG thanks Professor Ram Sharma, VC, UPES Dehradun for this research.

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The research was not funded by any public or commercial organizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jhansi, 284128, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sudeep Yadav

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, 208002, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Dan Bahadur Pal

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China

    Rajendra Prasad Singh

  4. Forest Department, Government of Uttarakhand, 85, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Parag Madhukar Dhakate

  5. Sustainability Cluster, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, 248007, Uttarakhand, India

    Balendu Shekher Giri

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  1. Sudeep Yadav
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  2. Dan Bahadur Pal
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  3. Rajendra Prasad Singh
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  4. Parag Madhukar Dhakate
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  5. Balendu Shekher Giri
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Contributions

Sudeep Yadav: conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, and writing—original draft preparation; Dan Bahadur Pal: data analysis and writing—review and editing; Rajendra Prasad Singh: review and editing; Parag Madhukar Dhakate: review and editing; Balendu Shekhar Giri: data analysis, writing—review and editing, supervision, and project administration. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sudeep Yadav or Balendu Shekher Giri.

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Yadav, S., Pal, D.B., Singh, R.P. et al. Barriers to sustainable biowaste-to-energy solutions: an analytical hierarchy process-based method analysis. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05672-5

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