Redesigning a bioenergy sector in EU in the transition to circular waste-based Bioeconomy-A multidisciplinary review

Abstract

The transformation of the energy systems encompasses technological, societal, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects and calls for a more important role for citizens and communities. Bioenergy systems are subjects to legal, technical, environmental, economic, and social settings. At the regional level, bioenergy can incorporate agricultural traditions and offer waste-management solutions. Many are the stakeholders, with different perceptions and sometimes, conflictual interests. This study is a multidisciplinary, comprehensive review of recently published papers, on legal, technical, economic, and environmental layers of the bioenergy. It highlights the role of bioenergy in the transition to a Circular waste-based Bioeconomy. Three dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) were discussed and some thermodynamic (energy, exergy, emergy) and environmental indicators applied to bioenergy systems, were cited. Findings conclude that in the context of Circular Bioeconomy, global bioenergy sector may face challenges, due to the new demand for biomaterials from the same sources. Bioenergy sustainable pathways should be selected at the base of high efficiency, towards closing loops and in the concept of cascade and integrated biorefineries. At the regional level, bioenergy systems may be integrated with the cascade biorefinery models or can offer waste management solutions by stand-alone, tailor-made decentralized systems. In redesigning the bioenergy sector, local knowledge, public health, and community's resilience should not be neglected, while social-environmental benefits should be considered in addressing the viability of bioenergy plants. Social acceptance can be improved by a better understanding of the scientific and technical issues and by developing a broader consciousness of the planet and life.