Assessing decarbonisation pathways in the food and beverage sector: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach

Abstract

Decarbonisation pathways for the food and beverage sector are focused at a national, regional, or sectoral level. There is a lack of literature which assesses decarbonisation pathways at a facility level and which compares pathways using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). This work assesses the economic and environmental performance of 21 decarbonisation pathways which could be implemented at a facility in the food and beverage sector using 5 MCDA methods. Four sets of criteria weights (equal criteria weights, economic focus, environmental focus, and subjective weights of facility management) are applied to compare the results obtained.The best pathway (Pathway no. 15: Boiler–combined heat and power, organic Rankine cycle (CHP ORC) – mechanical vapour recompression (MVR)) for equal criteria weights or an economic focus achieves the best net present value, reduces emissions by 43%, has the shortest payback period, and the lowest levelised cost of abatement. Pathway no. 14 (38 kV – MVR – biogas) (recommended for an environmental focus) enables a 100% reduction in GHG emissions but achieves the third worst net present value. Pathway no. 20 (Boiler – CHP ORC – MVR – Biogas) is recommended when using subjective weights and has the best levelised cost of abatement for any pathway that reduces emissions by 100%. However, pathway no. 20 has a negative net present value, a payback period greater than 20 years, and a high CAPEX spend per mass of tCO2eq saved. To achieve GHG emissions savings greater than 67%, biogas from the anaerobic digestion of distillery feed products is required.