An assessment of biomass supply chain : a DEA application

Renewable energy generation reduces carbon emissions and responds to the targets for renewable energy sources of most EU countries; it also enhances infrastructure resilience and creates flexibility of the energy matrix. However, the availability of biomass may drastically differ from country to country within the EU. In most cases, the most challenged countries to achieve high targets for sustainability are not those with a sufficiently large supply of biomass. Because of this, it is necessary to design new biomass supply chain networks and improve the existing networks. This paper aims to assess the efficiency of biomass alternative pathways of the supply network from South America to Europe. In this particular work, three scenarios of biomass using two transportation systems were investigated, i.e., transportation of wood logs, pellets and torrefied biomass in the country of origin by truck and train transportation. Efficiency was measured using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model derived from CCR. The results present the most efficient supply chain alternatives and highlight the feasibility of establishing closer cooperation between Brazil and countries in Europe for green energy generation. This information can assist in the process of planning and decision-making to determine the practicability of the implementation of torrefaction facilities using the most efficient logistical pathway

The efficiency and productivity of G20 countries in Circular Economy (CE) practices for the implementation of the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Os desequilíbrios ambientais decorrentes do atual modelo socioeconômico, que promove a exploração e degradação de recursos naturais, abre portas para novos paradigmas condizentes com o desenvolvimento sustentável. Nesse contexto, surgiu o conceito de Economia Circular (EC), que consiste em um ciclo contínuo de desenvolvimento positivo que preserva e valoriza o capital natural. Além disso, as práticas da EC em seu nível macro - podem impactar diretamente o progresso dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Milênio (ODS). Diante desse cenário, o objetivo geral deste trabalho consiste em mensurar a eficiência e produtividade dos países do G20 - Argentina, Austrália, Brasil, Canadá, China, França, Alemanha, Índia, Indonésia, Itália, Japão, Coreia do Sul, Rússia, Estados Unidos, México, Arábia Saudita, África do Sul, Turquia, Reino Unido - em práticas da Economia Circular para o progresso na realização de Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Milênio (ODS). Baseado em Schroeder et al. (2019), foram elaborados quatro modelos de eficiência e produtividade, em que variáveis relacionadas à EC são identificadas como fator causal de variáveis representativas dos ODS selecionados. Aplicou-se a Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA) modelo Slack-Based Measure (SBM) para mensurar a eficiência e o Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) para determinar a produtividade. Os resultados sugerem que os países do G20, quando considerados conjuntamente, apresentaram perda de eficiência e de produtividade. Uma possível explicação para tal observação é que os recursos naturais têm sido consumidos em maior intensidade enquanto as melhorias tecnológicas necessárias para aumento da produtividade ainda não demonstraram ser suficientes para compensar a pressão de demanda. Para o modelo referente ao 6° ODS (Água Potável e Saneamento), os países eficientes, no período de 2010 a 2019, foram Alemanha, Austrália, Reino Unido, África do Sul, Arábia Saudita, Brasil e Índia. Aqueles com os maiores escores de produtividade foram Alemanha, Canadá, França e Reino. A queda da eficiência e produtividade observada para todos os países pode ser devido à demanda por água potável e saneamento em maior escala que a proporcionada pela adoção de novas tecnologias. Referente ao modelo do 7° ODS (Energia Limpa e Acessível), os países eficientes no período de 2010 a 2019 foram: Coreia do Sul, África do Sul, Argentina, Brasil e Índia. Aqueles com os maiores escores de produtividade foram África do Sul, Índia e Indonésia. As perdas da eficiência e produtividade podem ser explicadas pela pressão por energia e eletricidade em um ritmo mais acelerado do que o desenvolvimento de tecnologias de energia renovável ou para outras formas de energia limpa acessível. Em relação ao 12° ODS Estados Unidos. Nesse modelo, os países mostraram uma redução na eficiência, porém ganhos de produtividade relacionados com o desenvolvimento de tecnologias. Por fim, para o 15° ODS (Vida Terrestre), os países eficientes no período de 2016 a 2019, foram: Alemanha, Coreia do Sul, França, Itália, Reino Unido, África do Sul, Argentina, Brasil, Indonésia e Turquia. Aqueles com os maiores escores de produtividade foram Alemanha, Coreia do Sul, Estados Unidos, Itália, Japão, Reino Unido, Argentina e China. O decréscimo da eficiência e produtividade indica que os recursos relacionados com a Vida Terrestre podem estar sendo consumidos de uma maneira mais acentuada que a capacidade e implementação de tecnologias para mantê-los. Os países considerados eficientes podem servir de benchmarkings para os demais em identificar práticas da EC que podem contribuir para a realização dos ODS, além de subsidiar políticas governamentais e estratégias da agenda ambiental a nível mundial.Environmental imbalances resulting from the current socioeconomic model, which promotes the exploitation and degradation of natural resources, opens doors to new paradigms consistent with sustainable development. In this context, the concept of Circular Economy (CE) emerged, which consists of a continuous cycle of positive development that preserves and values natural capital. Furthermore, CE practices at its macro level can directly impact the progress of the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given this scenario, the general objective of this work is to measure the efficiency and productivity of the G20 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, United States United States, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom - in Circular Economy practices for progress in achieving the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on Schroeder et al. (2019), four models of efficiency and productivity were developed, in which EC-related variables are identified as a causal factor of variables representative of the selected SDGs. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Slack- Based Measure (SBM) model was applied to measure efficiency and the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) to determine productivity. The results suggest that the G20 countries, when considered together, showed a loss of efficiency and productivity. A possible explanation for this observation is that natural resources have been consumed more intensively while the technological improvements needed to increase productivity have not yet proven to be sufficient to compensate for the demand pressure. For the model referring to the 6th SDG (Clean Water and Sanitation), the efficient countries, in the period from 2010 to 2019, were Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and India. Those with the highest productivity scores were Germany, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. The drop in efficiency and productivity observed for all countries may be due to the demand for potable water and sanitation on a larger scale than that provided by the adoption of new technologies. Referring to the model of the 7th SDG (Affordable and Clean Energy), the efficient countries in the period from 2010 to 2019 were: South Korea, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and India. Those with the highest productivity scores were South Africa, India and Indonesia. The efficiency and productivity losses can be explained by the pressure for energy and electricity at a faster pace than the development of renewable energy technologies or for other forms of affordable clean energy. Regarding the 12th SDG (Responsible Consumption and Production), the efficient countries in the period 2017 and 2019 were Australia, Canada, Italy, Argentina and Brazil. Countries with the highest productivity scores were: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea and the United States. In this model, countries showed a reduction in efficiency, but productivity gains related to the development of technologies. Finally, for the 15th SDG (Life on Land), the efficient countries in the period from 2016 to 2019 were: Germany, South Korea, France, Italy, United Kingdom, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey. Those with the highest productivity scores were Germany, South Korea, United States, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, Argentina and China. The decrease in efficiency and productivity indicates that resources related to terrestrial life may be being consumed in a more accentuated way than the capacity and implementation of technologies to maintain them. Countries considered efficient can serve as benchmarkings for others in identifying CE practices that can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, in addition to subsidizing government policies and strategies of the environmental agenda worldwide

Multi-criteria efficiency assessment of international biomass supply chain pathways using data envelopment analysis

Most European countries have committed to ambitious emissions reduction goals. Energy generation in particular is responsible for more than 30% of global emissions, where significant focus has been placed on renewable energy generation, including biomass. On the one hand, there are countries, like the UK, where the biomass stock is insufficient to meet the demand; on the other hand, there are countries, like Brazil, where the stock significantly exceeds the demand. To promote a natural symbiosis, it is necessary to take on the challenge of transporting biomass through long distances in an environmentally and economically efficient manner. This paper aims to assess the efficiency of alternative pathways of international biomass supply-chains. The alternatives involve different biomass origin regions, transportation modes, export ports and processing technologies, including torrefaction. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been used for the first time to assess the efficiency of the alternative biomass supply chain pathways in a Latin American context, considering multiple-criteria relating to economic and environmental performance simultaneously, such as the biomass delivered cost, the environmental impact and the fossil energy consumption. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to analyse the robustness of the results under uncertainty in parameter values. The DEA approach presented can assist the process of planning biomass sourcing and improve decision-making under multiple decision criteria. The results can support medium- and long-term strategic decisions for decision- and policy-makers