Modeling and optimization of energy production from lignocellulosic biomass in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Burkina Faso has significant biomass (lignocellulosic) potential that can be used for energy production. Despite this availability, there are many problems in developing viable schemes to implement optimal bioenergy production in Burkina Faso given the technologies and energy needs. This study aims to develop a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to evaluate and optimize the main supply chain options in terms of economic criteria. The proposed model was applied to a case study in five Burkina Faso regions to produce heat, electricity, and briquettes from crop residues (cotton stalks) and agro-industrial residues (cashew nut shells and mango pits). The obtained results indicate that the optimal technologies are briquetting plants for the production of briquettes and the best biomasses are agro-industrial residues. A sensitivity analysis is therefore made considering variations in the price of biomass and products.