**3.2 Priority sites for installing an energy production plant based on biomass in the Araucanía region**

The availability of the wheat biomass residue, considered a biomass production of 8534.8 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> for C/ST and 5536.1 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> for G/CC in the Araucanía Region, was concentrated in the central valley, in the south of the Malleco Province and in the north of the Cautín Province (**Figure 3a**) [2]. The usable land for installing an energy production plant is mainly located in the peripheral areas of the region, to the south and in the Andes Cordillera. The central area has a greater level of agricultural and industrial development (**Figure 3b**); however, the distribution of

#### **Figure 3.**

*Prioritization of the criteria established for the installation of an energy production plant based on the wheat residue biomass in the Araucanía region: (a) biomass production on a district-wide basis, (b) land use, (c) road network, and (d) distance to the electricity distribution network.*

**153**

*Selection of Optimal Localization for a Biomass Energy Plant that Uses Residual Biomass as…*

the development could be modified by reducing the use of scrubland meadows; the locations with a higher priority for an energy plant may be hindered by agricultural

The road network is a central paved axis, which corresponds to Route 5 that runs from the north to the south of the region. There are a series of secondary paved roads that run perpendicular to this route. Generally, paved roads are scarce, while gravel roads represent the densest network of roads in the region and are distributed toward the coastal area. Finally, dirt roads are found in the peripheral areas and are scarce (**Figure 3c**). The distance to the electrical distribution network displayed a similar pattern to that of the road network. A concentration of smaller distances to the network in the central and west areas was observed, while places with larger distance were found in the northeast region. Distances greater than

Standardized matrixes and priority vectors were established (or standardized vectors) for each of the priority placement scenarios (social, feasibility, and demand) for each energy production plant based on the wheat biomass (**Table 5**). An evaluation of the consistency in the priority evaluation matrices is relevant in AHP to avoid inconsistencies in the final matrix [33, 38, 43, 44]. Thus, a consistency reason (CR) was used. A consistency index (CI) and a randomness index (RI) were used to calculate the CR [33, 38, 44]. The CRs in the social and demand scenario matrices were 0.019 (CI: 0.023 and RI: 1.24) and 0.049 (CI: 0.056 and RI: 1.12), respectively. This showed that the matrices were consistent, since the inconsistencies of the chosen weights were less than 10% [38, 44]. For the feasibility scenario matrix, the column values were the same for all criteria, showing that the weights (values) used were consistent; therefore, a consistency analysis does not need to be performed [44, 45]. The CR would be equal to 0. Mu and Pereyra-Rojas [44] recommended performing a consistency analysis whenever the criteria were more than two. The CR for the feasibility scenario was 0 because the CI values obtained from

Value of priority vectors were considered as the final relative weight to each one of the variables in this analysis, for determining the optimal locations according to the three priority site scenarios [33, 43]. Here, under the social site scenario, the biomass availability was the most relevant (41.2%), while under the social demand and potential scenarios, the biomass availability was secondary (18.7% relevance for each). The same pattern was found in the demand scenario, where the availability was most relevant (49.6%), followed by the high-energy demand (33.0%). Finally, in the feasibility scenario, where biomass was considered a limiter, the land use, road network, and distance to the electrical distribution network were considered

Using the three scenarios for determining the best location for an energy production plant based on the wheat residue biomass, a similar behavior was observed in the priority establishment sites (**Figure 4**). In the social scenario, the optimal locations were dispersed in the central valley of the region, with a greater quantity in the south of the province of Malleco and the north of the province of Cautín, covering a surface of 226,414 ha (**Figure 4a**). In the feasibility scenario, the availability of the residue biomass was considered as a limiter; therefore, the best sites were clustered in areas similar to the distribution of the residues, which was concentrated in the central area of the region. For a G/CC plant with a minimum bio-

for a C/ST plant, with a minimum biomass requirement of 8534.8 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

, the available surface was 54,795 ha. However,

, the

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83526*

21,000 m were recorded (**Figure 3d**).

the priority vector was 0.

the factors with the greatest weight (31.8%).

mass requirement of 5536.1 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

*3.2.1 Determination of the priority placement areas*

use [42].

#### *Selection of Optimal Localization for a Biomass Energy Plant that Uses Residual Biomass as… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83526*

the development could be modified by reducing the use of scrubland meadows; the locations with a higher priority for an energy plant may be hindered by agricultural use [42].

The road network is a central paved axis, which corresponds to Route 5 that runs from the north to the south of the region. There are a series of secondary paved roads that run perpendicular to this route. Generally, paved roads are scarce, while gravel roads represent the densest network of roads in the region and are distributed toward the coastal area. Finally, dirt roads are found in the peripheral areas and are scarce (**Figure 3c**). The distance to the electrical distribution network displayed a similar pattern to that of the road network. A concentration of smaller distances to the network in the central and west areas was observed, while places with larger distance were found in the northeast region. Distances greater than 21,000 m were recorded (**Figure 3d**).

#### *3.2.1 Determination of the priority placement areas*

Standardized matrixes and priority vectors were established (or standardized vectors) for each of the priority placement scenarios (social, feasibility, and demand) for each energy production plant based on the wheat biomass (**Table 5**).

An evaluation of the consistency in the priority evaluation matrices is relevant in AHP to avoid inconsistencies in the final matrix [33, 38, 43, 44]. Thus, a consistency reason (CR) was used. A consistency index (CI) and a randomness index (RI) were used to calculate the CR [33, 38, 44]. The CRs in the social and demand scenario matrices were 0.019 (CI: 0.023 and RI: 1.24) and 0.049 (CI: 0.056 and RI: 1.12), respectively. This showed that the matrices were consistent, since the inconsistencies of the chosen weights were less than 10% [38, 44]. For the feasibility scenario matrix, the column values were the same for all criteria, showing that the weights (values) used were consistent; therefore, a consistency analysis does not need to be performed [44, 45]. The CR would be equal to 0. Mu and Pereyra-Rojas [44] recommended performing a consistency analysis whenever the criteria were more than two. The CR for the feasibility scenario was 0 because the CI values obtained from the priority vector was 0.

Value of priority vectors were considered as the final relative weight to each one of the variables in this analysis, for determining the optimal locations according to the three priority site scenarios [33, 43]. Here, under the social site scenario, the biomass availability was the most relevant (41.2%), while under the social demand and potential scenarios, the biomass availability was secondary (18.7% relevance for each). The same pattern was found in the demand scenario, where the availability was most relevant (49.6%), followed by the high-energy demand (33.0%). Finally, in the feasibility scenario, where biomass was considered a limiter, the land use, road network, and distance to the electrical distribution network were considered the factors with the greatest weight (31.8%).

Using the three scenarios for determining the best location for an energy production plant based on the wheat residue biomass, a similar behavior was observed in the priority establishment sites (**Figure 4**). In the social scenario, the optimal locations were dispersed in the central valley of the region, with a greater quantity in the south of the province of Malleco and the north of the province of Cautín, covering a surface of 226,414 ha (**Figure 4a**). In the feasibility scenario, the availability of the residue biomass was considered as a limiter; therefore, the best sites were clustered in areas similar to the distribution of the residues, which was concentrated in the central area of the region. For a G/CC plant with a minimum biomass requirement of 5536.1 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , the available surface was 54,795 ha. However, for a C/ST plant, with a minimum biomass requirement of 8534.8 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , the

*Biomass for Bioenergy - Recent Trends and Future Challenges*

(**Figure 2c**).

the regional surface).

of 8534.8 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

**the Araucanía region**

c.Social demand: This scenario was based on rural establishments (educational and healthcare facilities and villages), prioritizing the energy supply to these locations. All priority sites under this scenario were located following the central axis with the most populated municipalities, Angol, Victoria, and Temuco [40], distributing to west and southwest of Temuco, covering rural coast municipalities, Carahue, Teodoro Schmidt, Saavedra, and Nueva Toltén

Information for each of the scenarios was cross-matched linearly to determine the priority energy demand sites. The priority sites occupied an irregular distribution in the territory (**Figure 2d**) and covered approximately 548,134 ha (17.2% of

**3.2 Priority sites for installing an energy production plant based on biomass in** 

The availability of the wheat biomass residue, considered a biomass production

was concentrated in the central valley, in the south of the Malleco Province and in the north of the Cautín Province (**Figure 3a**) [2]. The usable land for installing an energy production plant is mainly located in the peripheral areas of the region, to the south and in the Andes Cordillera. The central area has a greater level of agricultural and industrial development (**Figure 3b**); however, the distribution of

*Prioritization of the criteria established for the installation of an energy production plant based on the wheat residue biomass in the Araucanía region: (a) biomass production on a district-wide basis, (b) land use, (c)* 

*road network, and (d) distance to the electricity distribution network.*

for G/CC in the Araucanía Region,

for C/ST and 5536.1 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

**152**

**Figure 3.**




#### **Table 5.**

*Standardized matrices and priority vectors used to determine the optimal location of an energy production plant in the Araucanía region, according to the social, feasibility, and demand scenarios.*

available surface was 41,949 ha (**Figure 4b**). In the high-demand scenario, a similar distribution to that of the feasibility scenario was observed, with a concentration of the optimal areas in the center of the region. The available space was 183,235 ha (**Figure 4c**).

Finally, 19 districts that met the requirements for the three scenarios were found. Thus, the installation of the plant may be considered an integrated solution for different types of demand (social, feasibility, and high demand). These districts were Chufquén, Coipué, Colonia Lautaro, Dollinco, General López, Huichahue, La Colmena, La Selva, Manzanaco, Parlamento, Perquenco, Quilquén, Quilquilco, Quino, Quintrilpe, Rehuecoyán, Roble Gaucho, Santa Ana, and Tricauco (**Figure 4d**).

In this study, the possibility of producing electrical energy using wheat residue biomass was evaluated based on two different combined cycle technologies

**155**

actions [17].

**Figure 4.**

*C/ST plant with 8534.8 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>*

*wheat biomass in the Araucanía region.*

**4. Conclusions**

*Selection of Optimal Localization for a Biomass Energy Plant that Uses Residual Biomass as…*

(C/ST and G/CC), where the biomass was submitted to a thermic process and then generated electricity [2]. These technologies must be economically evaluated to determine their viability in the Araucanía Region. In addition, there are other potential uses for residual biomass. Recently, Azócar et al. [46] evaluated the production of pellets from wheat residue biomass using a roasting process that optimized energy production from this raw material. Therefore, there are multiple alternatives for creating energy from this raw material that should be evaluated to avoid burning these residues and the environmental consequences from these

*Priority sites for energy plant installation an energy production plant based on the wheat biomass in the Araucanía region obtained by AHP under different scenarios, (a) social scenario; (b) feasibility scenario for* 

*multipurpose priority sites based in three scenarios for installation an energy production plant based on the* 

 *biomass as minimum requirement; (c) current demand scenario; and (d)* 

The multi-criteria analysis determined the sites where energy demand was present based on various scenarios. The energy demand contained a distribution

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83526*

*Selection of Optimal Localization for a Biomass Energy Plant that Uses Residual Biomass as… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83526*

#### **Figure 4.**

*Biomass for Bioenergy - Recent Trends and Future Challenges*

**Biomass Social** 

**Priority areas**

**Biomass Current** 

**demand**

Social demand

Potential demand

Electrical network

Priority areas

Electrical network

Current demand

Electrical network

**Table 5.**

**Criterion Social scenario**

**Potential demand**

**Land use Roads Electrical** 

Biomass 0.4412 0.5000 0.5000 0.3571 0.3571 0.3571 0.4188

Land use 0.0882 0.0556 0.0556 0.0714 0.0714 0.0714 0.0689 Road 0.0882 0.0556 0.0556 0.0714 0.0714 0.0714 0.0689

Land use 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 Road 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182

Biomass 0.5676 0.6774 0.4118 0.4118 0.4118 0.4961

Land use 0.0811 0.0323 0.0588 0.0588 0.0588 0.0580 Road 0.0811 0.0323 0.0588 0.0588 0.0588 0.0580

0.1471 0.1667 0.1667 0.2143 0.2143 0.2143 0.1872

0.1471 0.1667 0.1667 0.2143 0.2143 0.2143 0.1872

0.0882 0.0556 0.0556 0.0714 0.0714 0.0714 0.0689

**Feasibility scenario**

**network**

0.0455 0.0455 0.0455 0.0455 0.0455

0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182 0.3182

**Demand scenario**

**Land use Roads Electrical** 

0.1892 0.2258 0.4118 0.4118 0.4118 0.3301

0.0811 0.0323 0.0588 0.0588 0.0588 0.0580

**network**

**Land use Roads Electrical** 

**network**

**PVE**

**PVE**

**PVE**

**demand**

available surface was 41,949 ha (**Figure 4b**). In the high-demand scenario, a similar distribution to that of the feasibility scenario was observed, with a concentration of the optimal areas in the center of the region. The available space was 183,235 ha

*Standardized matrices and priority vectors used to determine the optimal location of an energy production* 

*plant in the Araucanía region, according to the social, feasibility, and demand scenarios.*

Finally, 19 districts that met the requirements for the three scenarios were found. Thus, the installation of the plant may be considered an integrated solution for different types of demand (social, feasibility, and high demand). These districts were Chufquén, Coipué, Colonia Lautaro, Dollinco, General López, Huichahue, La Colmena, La Selva, Manzanaco, Parlamento, Perquenco, Quilquén,

Quilquilco, Quino, Quintrilpe, Rehuecoyán, Roble Gaucho, Santa Ana, and

biomass was evaluated based on two different combined cycle technologies

In this study, the possibility of producing electrical energy using wheat residue

**154**

(**Figure 4c**).

Tricauco (**Figure 4d**).

*Priority sites for energy plant installation an energy production plant based on the wheat biomass in the Araucanía region obtained by AHP under different scenarios, (a) social scenario; (b) feasibility scenario for C/ST plant with 8534.8 t year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> biomass as minimum requirement; (c) current demand scenario; and (d) multipurpose priority sites based in three scenarios for installation an energy production plant based on the wheat biomass in the Araucanía region.*

(C/ST and G/CC), where the biomass was submitted to a thermic process and then generated electricity [2]. These technologies must be economically evaluated to determine their viability in the Araucanía Region. In addition, there are other potential uses for residual biomass. Recently, Azócar et al. [46] evaluated the production of pellets from wheat residue biomass using a roasting process that optimized energy production from this raw material. Therefore, there are multiple alternatives for creating energy from this raw material that should be evaluated to avoid burning these residues and the environmental consequences from these actions [17].

### **4. Conclusions**

The multi-criteria analysis determined the sites where energy demand was present based on various scenarios. The energy demand contained a distribution in different sectors of the region. The current demand (high demand) was concentrated in the main economic and residential centers of the region, and because the residential demand was prioritized over the industrial demand, the municipalities of Carahue, Cunco, and Temuco had the highest demand. The potential demand was found in the rural zones, where there is a minimal electrical service. These areas are mainly located in the mountain and/or coastal zones, which are far from the city of Temuco, the regional capital. The social demand showed greater distribution in the region, because there are dispersed rural settlements that require energy.

The optimal location for an energy production plant was determined using relevant information, such as the availability of the biomass, road network, etc. The biomass availability was the criterion with the greatest influence on a placement decision in the three scenarios (social, feasibility, and demand). Therefore, in the three scenarios, the optimal locations had a distribution similar to the availability of the biomass. The districts were Chufquén, Coipué, Colonia Lautaro, Dollinco, General López, Huichahue, La Colmena, La Selva, Manzanaco, Parlamento, Perquenco, Quilquén, Quilquilco, Quino, Quintrilpe, Rehuecoyán, Roble Gaucho, Santa Ana, and Tricauco, where the energy-producing plant, using wheat residue biomass, had greater viability because it meets the demand for the three scenarios under evaluation.
