Abstract

CABRERA, Edwin Sosa. Bioenergy Alternatives of Urban Solid Waste: Overview in Mexico. Letras Verdes [online]. 2022, n.31, pp.59-76. ISSN 1390-6631.  https://doi.org/10.17141/letrasverdes.31.2022.5086.

The international sustainable development agenda identifies two fundamental problems to be solved before 2030: the optimal management of Urban Solid Waste (USW) and the generation of clean and affordable energy. The energy use of residual biomass provides scientific and technological solutions, in an interdisciplinary way, to solve these problems together. The objective of this investigation is to examine the alternatives for bioenergetic use of USW, with emphasis on the possibilities of implementation in Mexico. With a documentary review, the thermochemical and biological methods for the bioenergetic use for the biomass of the USW, the expected products (industrial heat, biogas, bio-hydrogen, bioethanol, charcoal, and pellets), their applications, as well as the advantages and limitations of its implementation in Mexico are analyzed. It is concluded that the bioenergetic use of the USW allows: a) to reduce the environmental impacts from management, transport and disposal of the USW, as well as the emission of Greenhouse Gases by them, and by the fuels used in transportation, heating, and electricity generation; b) to value waste and change the financial balance by reducing the costs of managing USW, and generating income from the commercialization of bioenergetics, and c) to generate new sources of employment, contributing to sustainable development and without putting the country's food security and sovereignty at risk.

Keywords : biomass; biomass energy; energy supply; renewable energy sources; wastes; waste treatment.

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