Journal of Energy Bioscience 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 147-159 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 147 Systematic Review Open Access Energy Utilization of Agricultural Waste: From Waste Management to Energy Production Kaiwen Liang Agri-Products Application Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resouces, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: kaiwen.liang@hitar.org Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2024, Vol.15, No.3 doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0015 Received: 22 Mar., 2024 Accepted: 27 Apr., 2024 Published: 11 May., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Liang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Liang K.W., 2024, Energy utilization of agricultural waste: from waste management to energy production, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(3): 147-159 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0015) Abstract Agricultural waste management is a critical issue due to its environmental and economic implications. This study examines the transition from traditional waste management practices to innovative energy production technologies. Agricultural waste, including crop residues, animal manure, and agro-industrial by-products, varies in chemical and physical properties, and its production is influenced by seasonal and regional factors. Current waste management methods, such as burning and landfilling, have significant environmental and economic drawbacks, which are addressed by regulatory frameworks and policies. Advanced technologies like anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and biofuel production offer promising alternatives for converting waste into energy. Successful case studies from Europe, Asia, and North America demonstrate the practical implementation and benefits of these technologies. An economic analysis highlights the cost-effectiveness and market potential of energy products derived from agricultural waste, supported by government incentives. Environmental assessments reveal the sustainability and ecosystem benefits of these practices. Future research directions include emerging technologies, integration with other renewable sources, and policy recommendations to promote sustainable energy utilization of agricultural waste. This study underscores the importance of transitioning from waste management to energy production for enhanced environmental sustainability and economic viability. Keywords Agricultural waste; Energy production; Waste management; Sustainability; Renewable energy 1 Introduction Agricultural waste management has become a critical issue in recent years due to the increasing volume of waste generated by the agro-industrial sector. This waste, if not managed properly, can lead to significant environmental problems, including pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The effective management of agricultural waste is essential not only for environmental protection but also for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector. In many countries, agricultural waste is being increasingly recognized as a valuable resource that can be converted into energy, thereby reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to energy security. For instance, in Ukraine, the potential for using agricultural waste as raw materials for biogas production has been highlighted, with significant energy generation capabilities already being realized1. Similarly, in China, the energy utilization of agricultural waste has been identified as a key area of development, with research focusing on various technologies and methods for converting waste into energy (Wei et al., 2020). The transition from traditional waste management practices to energy production involves the adoption of innovative technologies and processes that can convert agricultural waste into various forms of energy. This shift is driven by the need to address the depletion of petroleum resources and the continuous deterioration of the ecological environment. Technologies such as biogas production, gasification, and microbial fuel cells are being explored and implemented to harness the energy potential of agricultural waste. For example, biogas plants in Ukraine have been successful in generating significant amounts of energy from agricultural waste, supported by favorable legislation (Tokarchuk, 2018). In addition, the development of multigeneration energy systems that utilize agricultural bio-waste for the production of electricity, heating, cooling, and freshwater demonstrates the versatility and efficiency of these technologies (Siddiqui and Dincer, 2021). The use of microbial fuel cells to generate electricity from organic waste further exemplifies the innovative approaches being taken to convert waste into energy.
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