Multisectoral optimization of residual resource valorization for bioeconomy
Abstract
Efficient use of constrained biomass and waste resources is a central challenge in circular bioeconomy planning. As bio-based technologies increasingly enable the recovery of diverse products and services, identifying optimal valorization strategies becomes a highdimensional problem. This study presents a scalable, multisectoral constrained optimization tool for assessing the optimal allocation of residual biomass at regional to national scale. The tool relies on continuous modeling across scales -from unit operation-level process descriptions to system-level performance-allowing quantification of trade-offs among competing valorization pathways under technological and contextual constraints. The tool was applied to metropolitan France, to evaluate the environmental impacts of baseline and optimized residual biomass valorization strategies across five prospective scenarios. Thirteen streams and 31 valorization pathways targeting nutrient, food, feed, power and heat recovery were considered. Results indicate that optimized strategies reduce environmental impacts by 25-60% compared to conventional management. However, optimized valorization strategies are highly sensitive to the performances of individual technologies. Coupling optimization with uncertainty analysis highlights the enabling conditions under which specific pathways contribute to optimal solutions, offering actionable insights for both technology developers and policy modelers. While the tool is adaptable for assessing other indicators such as economic performances, its static nature and data intensity position it best as a prescreening and exploratory decision-support tool.