An Overview of the Socio-Economic, Technological, and Environmental Opportunities and Challenges for Renewable Energy Generation from Residual Biomass: A Case Study of Biogas Production in Colombia

Abstract

The escalating global energy demand, driven by heavy reliance on fossil fuels, worsens environmental degradation and triggers socio-economic shifts in extraction and refinery hubs. In Colombia, the energy matrix is predominantly fossil-based (76%), with hydroelectric power accounting for 70% of electricity generation. However, renewable energy sources only contribute 2% to the national energy mix. To reduce emissions by 20% by 2030, Colombia has presented an energy transition roadmap. The need for bioenergy production in Colombia arises from the residual biomass availability, the potential to provide sustainable energy access, and the potential to mitigate climate change impacts, while addressing energy poverty and enhancing energy security. This study presents an overview of biogas production in Colombia, emphasizing the need for financial resources to overcome barriers. Policy incentives, awareness campaigns, and research and development play a vital role in fostering social acceptance, technology adoption, and optimizing biogas production processes. Collaborative efforts among the government, private sector, and local communities are recommended to ensure wide-scale adoption of biogas, promoting economic, social, and environmental sustainability. By enabling informed decision-making, this research supports the transition to renewable energy sources and the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on bioenergy. The aim of this study is to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with biogas production in Colombia, including technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects, and provide recommendations for promoting its sustainable implementation and widespread adoption in the country.

Mathematical Modeling Approach to the Optimization of Biomass Storage Park Management

“…Integrative models emphasizing the combined use of biomass with other renewable energies seem underrepresented in the current literature [17]. Also, biomass storage parks, like other energy production methods, have environmental and socio-economic implications [18]. An in-depth assessment of these impacts in the literature, encompassing both their positive and negative aspects, is deemed essential for ensuring the sustainability and community acceptance of biomass parks.…”

A concise review of technologies for converting forest biomass to bioenergy

“…Bioenergy has emerged as a prominent subject within the global discourse on climate change (Raihan & Tuspekova, 2023b). However, there exists a dearth of comprehensive research that offers a comprehensive examination of bioenergy production, specifically focusing on the conversion technologies employed to generate bioenergy from forest biomass (Rocha-Meneses et al, 2023). A notable research deficiency exists within the current body of literature on the process of converting forest biomass into bioenergy (Rani et al, 2023).…”

Effect of Glucose and Methylene Blue in Microbial Fuel Cells Using E. coli

“…Accelerated industrial development and demographic growth are constantly creating challenges to human society, some of those challenges include a scarcity of fresh water, increasing the demand of energy in the order of 28,500 TWh by the year 2021 [1], the generation of large amounts of waste currently estimated at 360 km 3 year −1 [2,3], and environmental deterioration [4]. Therefore, it is important to develop and implement energy-efficient processes that add value to the organic matter present in different types of wastewaters, this will in turn provide a means to achieve water purification and reuse [5].…”