*2.2.1 Standardization of criteria for determining the areas with an energy demand*

Each criterion was standardized with values between 1 and 7, with 1 representing the worst condition and 7 representing the best condition for each criterion.

For the current demand, the distance to the industries, industries quantity per district [30], and the residential energy consumption were considered [30, 31]. All criteria were discretized with values between 1 and 7 (**Table 1**). For the potential demand, those districts with an electrical coverage of less than 40% were considered, according to the 2006 CASEN [28]. These were discretized with values between 1 and 7. However, only odd values were used owing to the quantity of


#### **Table 1.**

*Discretization of the values to determine the supply of energy in the Araucanía region, according to the different demand criteria.*

**147**

(**Table 1**).

**Table 2.**

Distance to the industries

*(high, potential, and social).*

Araucanía Region.

plants [29, 33].

**based on biomass**

*2.3.1 Definition of criteria*

installation [33, 34].

sion criterion.

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

**Current demand Potential demand Social demand Criterion Weighting Criterion Weighting Criterion Weighting**

Industry quantity 0.25 Rural educational 0.33 Energy consumption 0.5 Villages 0.33

1.0 Primary

healthcare

0.33

coverage

0.25 Electrical

ranges available (**Table 1**). For the social demand, the distance to rural settlements, which corresponded to the villages, as well as the distances to primary healthcare centers and rural educational establishments were considered [32]. These were discretized with values between 1 and 7, with 7 representing the shortest distance

*Consideration of the criteria analyses in the MCE to determine the locations with the highest energy demand* 

Based on the type of demand and the multi-criteria evaluation (MCE), weights or considerations were assigned to each criterion (**Table 2**). The priority sites were determined, considering each type of demand (current, potential, and social). Finally, the set of demands was evaluated, where each demand was given a consideration value of 0.33. Thereafter, the energy demand information was used to determine the location of an energy production plant based on biomass in the

**2.3 Determination of the priority sites for installing an energy production plant** 

Determining the location of an energy production plant based on biomass was carried out according to a decision rule, where the MCE was used with an analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The use of these combined techniques is a common methodology employed to determine the installation location of energy production

Criteria selection is required for making decisions. Possible alternatives must

be quantified and must contribute to the decision-making process [33–35]. These criteria may be factors or limiters. A factor is a criterion that negatively or positively affects the possible location for the energy production plant, while a limiter (or exclusion criterion) restricts the location potential, excluding possible

a.Availability of biomass: The districts with a greater production of wheat residue biomass according to the estimates by Román-Figueroa et al. [2] were considered the most appropriate; however, this was not established as an exclu-

b.Energy consumption priority areas: These were established according to the energy demand scenarios previously calculated: high demand, social demand,

The factors employed in this evaluation were as follows:

*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*


**Table 2.**

*Biomass for Bioenergy - Recent Trends and Future Challenges*

locally supplied to homes, schools, or treatment centers.

Statistics [26].

considered.

criterion.

**Industries (m)**

42,600

63,900

85,201

106,501

127,801

149,101

6 21,300–

5 42,600–

4 63,900–

3 85,201–

2 106,501–

1 127,801–

*different demand criteria.*

**Industries (number)**

**2.2 Areas with an energy demand**

according to the census boundaries determined by the National Institute of

ing to three types of demand: current (or high demand), potential, and social. The current demand refers to the sectors with a high consumption. The potential demand refers to the non-covered demand, such as the districts without electricity. The social demand refers to areas where heating or electrical energy should be

The areas were determined with priority assigned to the energy supply, accord-

Different criteria were employed to determine the demand in each case. The current demand considers consumers in the industrial [27] and residential sectors [28]. For the potential demand, the demand for electrical services that are not yet provided is considered [29]; and in the social demand, the demand for energy (thermal and electrical) for services (education and healthcare) and rural homes is

*2.2.1 Standardization of criteria for determining the areas with an energy demand*

Each criterion was standardized with values between 1 and 7, with 1 representing the worst condition and 7 representing the best condition for each

For the current demand, the distance to the industries, industries quantity per district [30], and the residential energy consumption were considered [30, 31]. All criteria were discretized with values between 1 and 7 (**Table 1**). For the

potential demand, those districts with an electrical coverage of less than 40% were considered, according to the 2006 CASEN [28]. These were discretized with values between 1 and 7. However, only odd values were used owing to the quantity of

7 0–21,300 7–8 2000–12,000 0–10 0–9531 0–4572 0–4019

6 1600–2000 — 9531–

5 1300–1600 10–20 19,062–

4 1000–1300 — 28,593–

3 700–1000 20–30 38,124–

2 400–700 — 47,655–

1 0–400 30–40 57,186–

*Discretization of the values to determine the supply of energy in the Araucanía region, according to the* 

**Coverage (%)**

**Villages (m)**

19,062

28,593

38,124

47,655

57,186

66,717

**Primary healthcare (m)**

> 4572– 9145

9145– 13,717

13,717– 18,289

18,289– 22,861

22,861– 27,434

27,434– 32,006

**Rural educational (m)**

4019–8038

8038–12,057

12,057–16,076

16,076–20,095

20,095–24,114

24,114–28,133

**Value Current Potential Social**

**Energy consumption (MW)**

**146**

**Table 1.**

*Consideration of the criteria analyses in the MCE to determine the locations with the highest energy demand (high, potential, and social).*

ranges available (**Table 1**). For the social demand, the distance to rural settlements, which corresponded to the villages, as well as the distances to primary healthcare centers and rural educational establishments were considered [32]. These were discretized with values between 1 and 7, with 7 representing the shortest distance (**Table 1**).

Based on the type of demand and the multi-criteria evaluation (MCE), weights or considerations were assigned to each criterion (**Table 2**). The priority sites were determined, considering each type of demand (current, potential, and social). Finally, the set of demands was evaluated, where each demand was given a consideration value of 0.33. Thereafter, the energy demand information was used to determine the location of an energy production plant based on biomass in the Araucanía Region.
