IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v18y2026i16p8024-d2010135.html

Biomass Energy from Agricultural Waste at Peninsula de Santa Elena: A Sustainable Opportunity for Local Development

Author

Listed:
  • Bryan X. Medina-Rodriguez

    (Energy and Sustainability Research Group, School of Earth Sciences, Energy and Environment, Yachay Tech University, Urcuqui 100105, Ecuador)

  • Adriana Morales-Delgado

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Estatal Peninsula de Santa Elena, La Libertad 240207, Ecuador)

  • Nagelly X. Carriel-Torres

    (Energy and Sustainability Research Group, School of Earth Sciences, Energy and Environment, Yachay Tech University, Urcuqui 100105, Ecuador)

  • Anderson D. Calderon-Quelal

    (School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Yachay Tech University, Urcuqui 100105, Ecuador)

  • Mathew Cedeno-Avellan

    (School of Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Sciences, Yachay Tech University, Urcuqui 100105, Ecuador)

Abstract

This study evaluates the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of converting plantain and banana biomass (PBB) into renewable energy in the Santa Elena province, Ecuador. Through GIS-based assessment, empirical correlations for heating value estimation, and energy/exergy analyses, our work identifies 253,389.98 tons/year of field residues with a theoretical energy potential of 382.79 GWh/year. Passive solar drying and mechanical grinding enable low-energy pre-treatment, yielding a net energy output of 12.41 MJ/kg and an exergy efficiency of 51.2%, confirming the system’s thermodynamic viability. If implemented at scale with a 20% plant factor, the energy recovered could meet 17% of the province’s current electricity demand. Economic projections estimate a potential annual revenue of USD 18.95 million based on current electricity prices, supporting the profitability of decentralized combustion systems. The integration of PBB into the regional energy matrix contributes to reducing fossil fuel reliance, enhancing energy security, and promoting sustainable rural development. These findings align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 13, positioning biomass energy as a viable solution to Ecuador’s decarbonization goals and rural energy challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryan X. Medina-Rodriguez & Adriana Morales-Delgado & Nagelly X. Carriel-Torres & Anderson D. Calderon-Quelal & Mathew Cedeno-Avellan, 2026. "Biomass Energy from Agricultural Waste at Peninsula de Santa Elena: A Sustainable Opportunity for Local Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-28, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2026:i:16:p:8024-:d:2010135
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/16/8024/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/16/8024/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2026:i:16:p:8024-:d:2010135. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.