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Multicriteria Definition of Small-Scale Biorefineries Based on a Statistical Classification

Author

Listed:
  • Aicha Ait Sair

    (French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment—INRAE, 44300 Nantes, France)

  • Kamal Kansou

    (French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment—INRAE, 44300 Nantes, France)

  • Franck Michaud

    (Laboratoire Innovation Matériau Bois Habitat Apprentissage (LIMBHA), Ecole Supérieure du Bois, 7 Rue Christian Pauc, 44306 Nantes, France)

  • Bernard Cathala

    (French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment—INRAE, 44300 Nantes, France)

Abstract

Biorefineries have many possible designs and therefore, present varied benefits in regards to sustainable development. Evaluating these biorefineries is central for the domain, and, as small-scale biorefineries (SSB) are commonly opposed to the large ones, specifying the concept of scale of a biorefinery is essential as well. However, there is no consensual definition of the “scale”, and the meaning of the term changes with the context. This paper presents a methodology to specify the concept of scale by grouping various biorefineries processing lignocellulosic biomass according to factors related to feedstock, process, economy and mobility of the facility, without any predetermined pattern. Data from 15 operational biorefineries are analyzed using a multivariate analysis combined with a hierarchical clustering. The classification obtained categorizes biorefineries into four design classes: smallest, small, hybrid and large scale. Small-scale biorefineries are characterized by a small investment cost (less than 2 M€), a low processing capacity (less than 100 t/day) and a low process complexity, while the end-products’ added value is variable. The mobility of the plants is a sufficient, but not necessary, criterion to have a small-scale biorefinery. Finally, the designs of the investigated biorefineries can be explained by two main trade-offs: one between the mobility and the processing capacity-investment cost, and the other between the process complexity and the added value.

Suggested Citation

  • Aicha Ait Sair & Kamal Kansou & Franck Michaud & Bernard Cathala, 2021. "Multicriteria Definition of Small-Scale Biorefineries Based on a Statistical Classification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7310-:d:585389
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    1. Dayvid Souza Santos & Tito Francisco Ianda & Priscila Pereira Suzart Carvalho & Pedro Luiz Teixeira Camargo & Fárlei Cosme Gomes Santos & Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate & Fernando Luiz Pellegrini Pessoa , 2024. "Multi-purpose biorefineries and their social impacts: a systematic literature review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 10865-10925, May.
    2. Dayvid Souza Santos & Rilton Gonçalo Bonfim Primo & Ana Paula Henriques Gusmão Araújo Lima & Vanessa Batista Schramm & Yan Valdez Santos Rodrigues & Mischel Carmen Neyra Belderrain & Fernando Luiz Pel, 2024. "Evaluation of the social impacts of small- and medium-sized biorefineries in the Southern Coast Territory of Bahia considering the selection of technologies for bioactives: an MCDA model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 13117-13137, May.

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