Unlocking the green economy in Guyana: Leveraging agro-industrial residues for sustainable energy and carbon mitigation

Abstract

This paper explores the untapped potential of biomass residues from Guyana's three primary agro-industries - forestry, rice, and coconut - as a renewable energy source. We argue that converting these ‘low-value’ residues into torrefied pellets can diversify Guyana's energy portfolio, mitigate environmental impacts, and serve as a reliable energy source for marginalized communities. This initiative supports the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, the national overarching policy for sustainability. By unlocking the green economy, Guyana not only stands to reduce CO₂ emissions significantly but also sets a precedent for sustainable development through renewable energy. Three major agro-industries collectively generate 246,261 MT of biomass residue annually, with a thermal energy potential of 161,659 GJ. The rice sector leads in potential thermal energy and total mass, offering a substantial resource for renewable energy. The rice sector is also the largest contributor to CO₂ emissions in Guyana across all combustion levels, emitting over five times more CO₂ than the forest sector and over ten times more than the coconut sector at 100 % combustion. This study reveals that managing combustion levels and converting biomass residues into energy pellets can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions across the three primary industries in Guyana, thereby contributing to carbon mitigation.