Decision-making in biogas production projects: Paradigms and prospection

Area of Science:

• Biogas production and sustainable energy technologies.
• Organic waste management and circular economy principles.
• Decision-making frameworks for environmental and social impact assessment.

Background:

• Biogas production projects involve complex decision-making processes with multiple variables.
• Existing literature often prioritizes economic and technical criteria over environmental and social factors.
• A holistic approach is needed to ensure the true sustainability of biogas initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an integrative literature review to identify decision-making criteria for biogas production projects.
• To analyze the stages of the biogas production cycle and influencing economic, environmental, and social aspects.
• To propose a preliminary decision-making model for sustainable biogas project implementation.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review of 58 papers was conducted.
• Criteria for decision-making were identified and classified into economic, environmental, social, and technical categories.
• Analysis covered initial, plant, and final stages of the biogas production cycle.

Main Results:

• 499 original criteria were identified, categorized into 39 sub-criteria.
• Economic and technical criteria were most frequently published, while environmental and social criteria were less prioritized.
• A tendency exists to favor economic and technical dimensions over environmental and social ones in current research.

Conclusions:

• The study underscores the need to balance technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects for sustainable biogas projects.
• Findings inform policymakers to promote holistic decision-making for environmentally friendly and socially equitable biogas ventures.
• This research provides insights for aligning biogas production with broader sustainability goals and advancing renewable energy.