To ensure the long-term viability of a circular bioeconomy based on native forests, it is crucial to enhance our understanding and overcome existing disparities in knowledge and application throughout the entire value chain of forest products. The objective of this article is to contribute towards this goal and facilitate the proper management of forest biomass. Firstly, a methodology is proposed for the study of biomass throughout the native forest value chain, identifying the main steps, criteria, and variables to consider. This approach is evaluated through a case study in Argentina, where over 2370 tons of biomass are wasted annually. A series of strategies for analyzing the most suitable uses and applications for this biomass are examined. Finally, some key approaches for the promotion of a circular and sustainable forest bioeconomy are identified. While it is true that there is still a long way to go before small rural economies can make a more efficient and comprehensive use of their resources (potentially including small biorefineries) with appropriate cascade use schemes, moving towards biomass energy use constitutes a practical and concrete alternative today. This proposal provides tools for accelerating this necessary ecological and energy transition.

Currently, emerging technologies such as digital twins, through the application of frontier techniques, have achieved physics-based simulations that reduce time and costs. Hence, its application is of the utmost importance in the industry, mainly in the sugar drying process of sugar mills for an updated version of the process. Sugar mills lack process control, leading to unexpected issues. Sugar mills with poor process control cause operational problems. This article presents significant innovation in the field of industrial process optimisation through the integration of digital twins with the k-ε standard model in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The primary objective of this publication is to predict the ideal conditions of a centrifugal sugar dryer using CFD through the k-ε standard model to analyse the aerodynamic behaviour of the ambient air by applying heat through heat exchangers to obtain a suitable mass flow. The mathematical model was carried out under an energy balance to the thermodynamic system to study the behaviour through a simulation in MATLAB R2017 and an air-fluid simulation of drying with software CFD 2015. The results proved that the model of the thermal system and frontier conditions, when applying CFD, carried our simulation and remained stable. The ideal operating conditions of the centrifugal sugar dryer can be predicted effectively, with an energy saving of 4.25%.

Over recent decades, human activities have essentially depended on fossil fuels. The last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports recommend a shift to renewables and a more energy-efficient economy. To fulfill the potential of bioenergy, tools are required to overcome the complexities of the decision-making processes for viable projects. This work presents a decision-making tool to select the most feasible biomass residues and a case study of the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. Among the 13 evaluated criteria, eucalyptus residues demonstrated the highest potential for electricity production, followed by sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks. The choice of Minas Gerais as a case study is important due to its diverse agricultural landscape and the potential for biomass residue generation. The presented methodology uses the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM). Thirteen criteria were required to enable the best choice of biomass residue alternatives for electricity generation, which experts in the bioenergy field evaluated. The technical criterion was shown to be the one with the highest degree of importance. The results of the study identified that CO_2eq emissions (11.46%) and electricity demand (ED) were the most relevant sub-criteria for prioritizing the viability of agricultural waste. Eucalyptus was ranked as the most promising biomass, followed by sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks. In addition, the use of GIS tools made it possible to map the regions with the greatest potential in Minas Gerais, providing a robust approach to identifying strategic sites for bioenergy.