Bioenergy updates and prospects for decarbonization in the ASEAN region: A review on logistical concerns and potential solutions

Association of Southeast Asian Economies (ASEAN's) logistical concerns and support for bioenergy production from biomass waste are consolidated to discuss the updates and the areas needing modification/improvement to sustain the increasing trend of bioenergy production and consumption amidst food security and other ecological issues in the region. A systematic narrative review was conducted to address the current information scarcity on bioenergy logistics and discuss methods for moving forward. Regardless, the biofuels supply chain primarily supports biofuels and has numerous logistical concerns, including feedstock, conversion, and generation. The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation has coordinated the ASEAN's present bioenergy development that shows slow yet determined steps. As a result of policies and mandates, bioenergy production has progressed steadily, as well as a continuous improvement of current energy logistics (mostly fossil fuel‐based) to increase biofuel deployment. The current logistics for bioenergy is still lacking and technologically ill‐equipped, with significant inefficiency and sub‐optimality issues. Huge support to re‐engineer and retool bioenergy logistics is necessary to make bioenergy competitive with fossil fuels in ASEAN countries with varying economic and modernization status. Regional cooperation is key in developing an efficient and optimal logistical system for bioenergy in ASEAN, which needs to be supported with intensified R&D, smart solutions, green financing, incentive system, risk management, and policy frameworks. Green logistics is advocated to push forward decarbonizing the future across the ASEAN region with bioenergy. This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Bioenergy Climate and Environment > Net Zero Planning and Decarbonization Sustainable Development > Goals Climate and Environment > Circular Economy