Towards Sustainable Energy: Economic and Environmental Factors Influencing Feasibility of Agricultural Waste Derived Biogas for Electricity Systems

Abstract

More than 70% of the world’s electricity generation comes from nonrenewable energy sources, which can cause environmental damage. However, alternative energy sources can bring environmental and economic benefits to companies and society. This study aims (i) to unveil the main economic tools and methods used to determine economic feasibility of using agricultural wastes for biogas and electricity generation systems, as well as the environmental aspects that hold influence over it, (ii) to identify the most relevant recent studies and main researchers in this field globally, and (iii) to propose a future agenda for the field. Employing a systematic literature review, a total of 51 articles were selected, and few characteristics were analyzed in terms of bibliometry, such as authorship, type of study, journals, and country. The economic viability analysis explored attributes such as payback, net present value, sensitivity analysis, internal rate of return, and cost-benefit. From an environmental perspective, life cycle assessment, as a technique, and circular economy, as an approach, have been frequently employed in this field. The analysis revealed that Europe (mainly Sweden and Belgium) emerged as the most important continent to develop studies on this topic. However, China and Brazil have shown a recent increase in the number of publications. Notably, no well-known authors were identified as working on the theme. In terms of types of study, case studies accounted for 80% of the final portfolio. Moreover, 60% of the documents analyzed demonstrated economic viability. This study can contribute to understanding the potential environmental impacts of electricity generation from biogas and assisting in decision-making within the public sector.