Work

Development of Indicators for the Energy Assessment of Biomass Integration into Electrical Grids in Colombia

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The increasing need for flexible and decentralized electricity systems in Colombia has renewed interest in biomass as a complementary renewable energy source beyond conventional large-scale applications. Rather than focusing on specific conversion technologies, this study develops an indicator-based framework aimed at qualifying the energetic suitability of diverse biomass resources for integration into electrical microgrids and distributed generation schemes. The research follows a documentary and comparative methodological design structured around sequential analytical stages, including the systematization of biomass resources, their physicochemical and energetic characterization based on reported data, conceptual analysis of the biomass-to-electricity pathway, and the formulation of quantitative energy indicators. These indicators are subsequently transformed into qualitative categories through a discretization procedure that enables relative comparison across resource types. Agricultural residues, livestock by-products, urban pruning waste, and residues from dedicated energy crops were considered within a unified analytical framework. The resulting indicator set captures resource availability, energy content, and conversion-relevant attributes, allowing biomass alternatives to be assessed in a consistent and comparable manner without relying on site-specific technological assumptions. By translating quantitative parameters into qualitative energy profiles, the proposed approach supports early-stage planning and decision-making for decentralized power systems. The framework provides a systematic basis for identifying biomass resources with favorable energetic characteristics and contributes to the broader discussion on sustainable and diversified electricity generation in Colombia.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app16031327

Authors: Andres Felipe Trochez Llantén, Eduardo Gómez-Luna, Rafael Franco-Manrique, Juan C. Vasquez

Institutions: Universidad del Valle, Aalborg University

Language: English

Topic: Forest Biomass Utilization and Management

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action, Responsible consumption and production, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896