Bioenergy as an Alternative Source of Green Energy and its Environmental Efficiency

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the environmental and economic dimensions of bioenergy, with a focus on optimizing biomass production and conversion for energy purposes. The study examines state-of-the-art technologies for processing organic waste, including thermal methods (pyrolysis, gasification) and biotechnological approaches (anaerobic digestion, fermentation). Experimental results demonstrate that combining pyrolysis with bioconversion increases energy efficiency by 32% and reduces the carbon footprint by 2.3 t CO₂-eq/year for a 1 MW facility. The environmental performance of bioenergy largely depends on the methods of biomass production and conversion, as well as the level of innovative technologies applied in the process. A major advantage of bioenergy lies in its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. An economic evaluation of 12 pilot projects revealed the profitability of bioenergy systems at an energy cost of 3.8-5.1 $/GJ with a payback period of 5-8 years. A developed neural network model predicts biogas yield with an accuracy of R² = 0.94, enabling real-time optimization of process parameters. Integration of IoT platforms and catalytic filters lowers operating costs by 18%, confirming the potential of digitalization in the sector. The study emphasizes the importance of government and business support, as the introduction of carbon quotas and tax incentives could attract up to $2.4 billion in investment by 2030. LEAP-based modeling forecasts a reduction of 12.7 million t CO₂-eq/year with a 20% substitution of fossil fuels. The findings are aligned with the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, positioning bioenergy as a key element of the low-carbon economy.