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Prioritization of Bioethanol Production Systems from Agricultural and Waste Agricultural Biomass Using Multi-criteria Decision Making

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Abstract

In this paper, the problem of sustainability assessment of various types of bioethanol plants is addressed. This represents the first evaluation of 30 bioethanol systems fed by agricultural and waste agricultural biomass in Iran, using multi-criteria decision analysis relying on seven sustainability criteria (total cost, benefit, fossil energy ratio, energy use efficiency, greenhouse gas [GHG] emission, land use, and production yield) and five representative decision-maker preference scenarios. The results show that most agricultural systems are not feasible in terms of economics, energy, and the environment. However, agricultural wastes are attractive feedstocks for bioethanol production, since they are cost-effective, renewable, and abundant. The results across several preference scenarios for waste crops indicate that producing bioethanol from sugarcane currently scores highest in sustainability for Iran. Barley and strawberry have the lowest ranks in most scenarios due to their high GHG emissions and low production yield. In addition to sugarcane, potato and sugar beet are the most beneficial from the energy and environmental perspectives. Pear and apple also have high-middle status among the considered scenarios for Iran. These results suggest that design policies promoting the use of agricultural wastes for energy production may appeal to decision makers with a diverse range of economic, environmental, and energy preferences. Finally, this type of research can provide arguments to support decisions tending toward a more structured and strategic approach in implementing sustainable energy policies.

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Abbreviations

A:

Biomass production level

BPC:

Benefit per cost

C:

Bioethanol production level

Cfix :

Fixed cost ($)

Ctotal :

Total production cost ($)

Cvar :

Variable cost ($)

D:

Diesel

Dbe :

Bioethanol demand (kg)

E:

Sugar production level

EUE:

Energy use efficiency

FER:

Fossil energy ratio

FFA:

Free fatty acid

GHG:

Total greenhouse gas emission (kg CO2eq)

HC:

Harvesting coefficient

I:

Different inputs

L:

Levels in bioethanol production chain

La:

Land use (ha)

NG:

Natural gas

Pr:

Price

T:

Transport level

X:

Material flow

b:

Different kinds of biomasses

bd:

Bioethanol

bp:

Different kinds of by-products

cb:

Specific chemical biocide consumption (kg/ha)

ec:

Energy coefficient

ef:

GHG emission factor

i:

Counter

s:

Sugar content liquid

x:

Weight percent

yb :

Yield of biomass kind of b (ton/ha)

\(\eta\) :

Technological efficiency

\(\alpha\) :

Ratio of by-product to the main product

\(\tau\) :

Technology

\(\iota\) :

Loss percent

\(\varepsilon\) :

Availability percent of waste crops

\(\omega\) :

Waste percent of different crops

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 6, 107, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Sahar Safarian & Runar Unnthorsson

  2. Scientific and Technological Department of Presidential Office, No. 20, Ladan Alley, North Sheikh Bahayee St., MollaSadra St., Vanak Sq., P.O. Box 14155-1565, Tehran, Iran

    Sahar Safarian & Zeinab Hamidzadeh

  3. Energy Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., P.O. Box 11155-9567, Tehran, Iran

    Sorena Sattari

Authors
  1. Sahar Safarian
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  2. Sorena Sattari
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  4. Zeinab Hamidzadeh
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Correspondence to Sahar Safarian.

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Safarian, S., Sattari, S., Unnthorsson, R. et al. Prioritization of Bioethanol Production Systems from Agricultural and Waste Agricultural Biomass Using Multi-criteria Decision Making. Biophys Econ Resour Qual 4, 4 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41247-019-0052-0

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