Optimal planning of energy production involving carbon capture systems through a multi-stakeholder scheme

The global energy demand is mainly satisfied by fossil fuels; nevertheless, this is associated directly with the global warming problem. Some alternatives have been proposed to solve this problem such as the use of biofuels and the carbon capture approach. On the one hand, the biomass can capture the CO2 emissions during its growth; while the emissions generated during the production of fuels can be captured through industries based on forest plantations. For that reason, a system able to integrate the production of fuels through refineries and biorefineries with the use of forest plantations to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions can be an attractive solution to the environmental sustainability issues. However, a holistic solution needs actions from many players as the government, society, biomass producer, etc. Therefore, this paper proposes a mathematical model for the optimal planning of an integrated system for the production of fuels and biofuels considering the interaction with eco-industries able to capture emissions from biorefineries and refineries and receive a monetary benefit. Furthermore, the present approach is formulated as a multi-stakeholder scheme in order to consider the benefits and affectations in each one of the entities of the involved supply chains, and determining how the interactions between the different stakeholders take place. This way, the present methodology takes into account the profit of biorefineries, refineries and forest plantations, as well as the emissions and generated jobs of each one of the entities. Additionally, it is considered the price of the petroleum and the possibility to use oil from external producers affecting directly the internal demand and consumption. Also, the methodology contemplates features such as the project life time, the availability of resources, the amount and type of products that should be produced and the allocation and capacity of the refineries, biorefineries and forest plantations The mathematical approach was applied to a nationwide case study for Mexico, considering the creation of new jobs, overall emissions and net profit as main objectives, nevertheless other features were evaluated as the competence of the biomass to food, the use of water and the employment in rural regions. The results are shown in several Pareto curves, which are useful to take decisions about the planning of the system and how the interactions between the stakeholders take place.