Production of solid biofuels from organic waste in developing countries: A review from sustainability and economic feasibility perspectives

The current increase in the world population and its energy demand promotes the study and implementation of cleaner energy forms since the traditional energy recovery systems are seriously affecting the environment. Biofuels and especially biomass or solid biofuels represent a sustainable energy source for developed and developing countries. This review aims to discuss the characteristics and advantages of solid biofuels, analyse the pretreatments and thermal treatments required to recover energy, and compare them with traditional fossil fuels. Other areas such as the sustainability and economic feasibility of solid biofuels are likewise addressed by explaining frequently used tools to evaluate the environmental impact as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Comparatively, more recent methodologies are examined as efforts for accomplishing sustainability in the biofuel industry, namely Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) and certification schemes like the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), the Inter-American Development Bank Sustainability Scorecard, and initiatives like the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Finally, it was revealed that the economic feasibility and competitiveness of solid biofuels differ among developing countries but represent a notable contribution to their energy matrix. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The growing world population and energy demand have led to the exploration of cleaner energy forms, with solid biofuels emerging as a sustainable energy source for both developed and developing countries. This review focuses on discussing the characteristics and advantages of solid biofuels, analyzing the required pretreatments and thermal treatments, comparing them with traditional fossil fuels, and addressing issues of sustainability and economic feasibility. New methodologies such as Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and certification schemes like RSB, IDB Sustainability Scorecard, and RSPO are examined as efforts to achieve sustainability in the biofuel industry.