Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production
Background. The transformation of agro-industrial waste into a strategic resource for energy decentralisation is crucial. In view of modern security challenges and the European Green Deal, there is a growing need for agro-industrial enterprises to transition to closed circular bioeconomy cycles, whe...
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Dr. Viktor Koval
2026
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| author | Alieksieieva, Olha Lutkovska, Svitlana Mazur, Kateryna Hontaruk, Yaroslav |
| author_facet | Alieksieieva, Olha Lutkovska, Svitlana Mazur, Kateryna Hontaruk, Yaroslav |
| author_institution_txt_mv | [
{
"author": "Olha Alieksieieva",
"institution": "Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine"
},
{
"author": "Svitlana Lutkovska",
"institution": "Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine"
},
{
"author": "Kateryna Mazur",
"institution": "Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine"
},
{
"author": "Yaroslav Hontaruk",
"institution": "Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine"
}
] |
| author_sort | Alieksieieva, Olha |
| baseUrl_str | https://ees-journal.com/index.php/journal/oai |
| collection | OJS |
| datestamp_date | 2026-06-30T15:36:43Z |
| description | Background. The transformation of agro-industrial waste into a strategic resource for energy decentralisation is crucial. In view of modern security challenges and the European Green Deal, there is a growing need for agro-industrial enterprises to transition to closed circular bioeconomy cycles, where intellectual capital and digitalisation serve as the basis for innovative progress.
Purpose. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive assessment the potential for biofuel production from waste in the agricultural sector of Ukraine and justify its strategic role in ensuring energy independence, using a model to assess the technical and energy potential of biomass, taking into account environmental and logistical constraints.
Findings. A model of the integrated technical and energy potential of the agro-industrial complex biomass was developed and tested based on ecological and technological screening principles for the period 2022-2025. The methodology considers the agro-ecological qualification (removal of no more than 25–30% of plant residues to preserve humus) and the institutional barrier of large-scale commercialisation (screening of dispersed waste from the private livestock sector), based on which the commercial potential of Ukrainian agro-biomass was determined at the level of 4.63 million tons of oil equivalent (toe) and its regional decomposition was carried out. The involvement of food industry enterprises (sugar and alcohol plants) as logistics hubs for biomethane and digestate production has optimised supply chains and reduced logistics costs by 30–40% compared to the decentralised collection of distributed biomass. Due to the concentration of significant volumes of homogeneous waste at the industrial sites of these enterprises, the maximum methane yield is achieved through co-fermentation, increasing the investment attractiveness of biogas projects and accelerating their payback.
Implications. The effective conversion of agricultural waste into biofuels can significantly reduce the consumption of fossil resources (natural gas and coal) in local heat and power supply systems. The main barriers to the development of circular models are a lack of long-term  investment capital and institutional restrictions on the integration of biomethane into the network. The practical significance of the results lies in the development of applied tools for government agencies and businesses to support regional energy development strategies and climate neutrality programs. |
| doi_str_mv | 10.61954/2616-7107/2026.10.2-10 |
| first_indexed | 2026-07-01T01:00:29Z |
| format | Article |
| fulltext |
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
136
Research Article
UDC 662.63:330.15
JEL: Q16, Q42, Q57, O13
ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE
ENERGY POTENTIAL FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY
AND BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
Olha Alieksieieva
Vinnytsia National Agrarian University,
Vinnytsia, Ukraine
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4430-624X
Svitlana Lutkovska
Vinnytsia National Agrarian University,
Vinnytsia, Ukraine
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8350-5519
Kateryna Mazur
Vinnytsia National Agrarian University,
Vinnytsia, Ukraine
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1137-3422
Yaroslav Hontaruk *
Vinnytsia National Agrarian University,
Vinnytsia, Ukraine
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7616-9422
*Corresponding author
E-mail: goncharuk@vsau.vin.ua
Background. The transformation of agro-industrial
waste into a strategic resource for energy decentralisation is
crucial. In view of modern security challenges and the
European Green Deal, there is a growing need for agro-
industrial enterprises to transition to closed circular
bioeconomy cycles, where intellectual capital and
digitalisation serve as the basis for innovative progress.
Purpose. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive
assessment the potential for biofuel production from waste in
the agricultural sector of Ukraine and justify its strategic role
in ensuring energy independence, using a model to assess the
technical and energy potential of biomass, taking into account
environmental and logistical constraints.
Findings. A model of the integrated technical and
energy potential of the agro-industrial complex biomass was
developed and tested based on ecological and technological
screening principles for the period 2022-2025. The
methodology considers the agro-ecological qualification
(removal of no more than 25–30% of plant residues to
preserve humus) and the institutional barrier of large-scale
commercialisation (screening of dispersed waste from the
private livestock sector), based on which the commercial
potential of Ukrainian agro-biomass was determined at the
level of 4.63 million tons of oil equivalent (toe) and its
regional decomposition was carried out. The involvement of
food industry enterprises (sugar and alcohol plants) as
logistics hubs for biomethane and digestate production has
optimised supply chains and reduced logistics costs by 30–
40% compared to the decentralised collection of distributed
biomass. Due to the concentration of significant volumes of
homogeneous waste at the industrial sites of these enterprises,
the maximum methane yield is achieved through co-
fermentation, increasing the investment attractiveness of
biogas projects and accelerating their payback.
Implications. The effective conversion of agricultural
waste into biofuels can significantly reduce the consumption
of fossil resources (natural gas and coal) in local heat and
power supply systems. The main barriers to the development
of circular models are a lack of long-term investment capital
and institutional restrictions on the integration of biomethane
into the network. The practical significance of the results lies
in the development of applied tools for government agencies
and businesses to support regional energy development
strategies and climate neutrality programs.
Keywords: Agricultural Waste, Agro-Industrial
Complex, Biomass, Circular Economy, Energy Potential.
Received: 25/03/2026
Revised: 12/06/2026
Accepted: 20/06/2026
Published: 30/06/2026
DOI: 10.61954/2616-7107/2026.10.2-10
© Economics Ecology Socium, 2026
CC BY-NC 4.0 license
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
137
1. Introduction.
Given the worsening geopolitical situation
and the current state of the global energy
market, countries are actively seeking ways to
strengthen their energy security and decarbonise
their economies. One of the most promising
directions for countries with developed
agricultural sectors, such as Ukraine, is the
transition to a circular economy model in which
agro-industrial complexes are recognised as
valuable energy resources. The production of
biofuels (biomethane, solid fuels, and
bioethanol) from crop and livestock by-products
can simultaneously address waste disposal
issues, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and
mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, to
realise this potential, a thorough analysis of the
resource base, technological capabilities, and
economic feasibility is necessary.
In the context of global energy instability
and rising climate change demands, the
development of bioenergy has become a
strategic priority for agrarian-oriented countries
(Venkatramanan et al., 2021). The use of agro-
industrial complex (AIC) waste for energy
generation not only diversifies the energy
balance but also ensures the sustainable
development of rural areas. The economic
assessment of environmental protection
activities within Ukraine’s sustainable
development concept, as presented in Kaletnik’s
(2025) research, indicates the need to integrate
environmental measures into the overall
agricultural production strategy.
The environmental feasibility and
transition to a “green” economy through the
production of biofuels from waste to achieve
climate neutrality have been thoroughly
analysed (Gontaruk et al., 2024; Hontaruk et al.,
2024), and the need for a transition to biofuel
production has been stated. Priority areas for
development include adapting production
systems to bio-economy principles,
implementing environmentally friendly
technologies, and establishing efficient market
channels for innovative bio-based products. The
effectiveness of these processes largely depends
on the level of human capital, technological
capabilities, and digital maturity of agro-
industrial enterprises.
Under such conditions, intellectual capital
becomes an important factor in the digital
transformation of the agricultural sector,
facilitating the adoption of innovation and
improving enterprises’ adaptability to a rapidly
changing economic environment. The
substantial biomass resource potential of
Ukraine, its climate commitments, and the
growing need for decentralised energy systems
further emphasise the relevance of this study.
2. Literature Review.
The theoretical basis for the study of
renewable energy sources in the agricultural
sector is formed at the intersection of
environmental safety, the circular economy, and
the strategic management of agro-industrial
enterprises. A thorough discussion is underway
to find a balance between increasing the
generation of alternative fuels and preserving
the ecosystem potential of rural areas.
Significant attention has been paid to
biomass inventory, the assessment of its energy
equivalent, and the development of
decentralised energy supply models, considering
agricultural by-products not as production waste
but as highly efficient economic resources. The
assessment of biofuel production potential
should be based on an analysis of crop and
livestock residues, which is key to strengthening
energy independence and transitioning to a
circular economy (Damian et al., 2024).
The agricultural sector possesses
significant biomass resources. However, their
effective conversion into energy requires the
introduction of innovative technologies and
consideration of the environmental standards of
the European Green Deal (Honcharuk et al.,
2026). Particular attention is paid to the
economic feasibility of various biofuel types.
Kaletnik et al. (2021) demonstrated that using
solid biofuels derived from agricultural by-
products (straw and husks) is one of the most
cost-effective ways to replace fossil fuels in
heating systems. Simultaneously, Vasileiadou
(2024) and Talavyria (2025) emphasised the
potential of biogas technologies to transform
organic waste into high-quality biomethane and
organic fertilisers, thereby addressing the
industry’s energy and environmental problems.
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
138
As part of post-war reconstruction,
research priorities focus on restructuring
production in line with bioeconomy principles,
implementing green technological solutions, and
developing effective sales channels (Toplicean
& Datcu, 2024). Ukraine has the potential to use
approximately 11–12 million hectares of land
(Tokarchuk et al., 2022). Previous studies have
emphasised that the effectiveness of marketing
tools in the bioenergy industry depends on the
level of human and technological development
of agro-industrial enterprises. Intellectual capital
is the basis for the digitalisation of the agro-
industrial complex, ensuring not only innovative
progress but also flexible adaptation to the
conditions of the modern digital economy
(Bondarenko et al., 2026).
The macro-level socioeconomic and
environmental implications of accelerating
biofuel production position Ukraine as a
strategically important player in the
international bioenergy arena. Pryshliak et al.
(2021) emphasise that the systemic development
of the biofuel sector not only mitigates global
climate risks but also stimulates rural regional
economies by generating new jobs, reducing
dependency on imported energy resources, and
improving the overall trade balance. The
international dimension underscores the need to
transform traditional linear agricultural practices
into advanced waste-to-energy systems (Damian
et al., 2024).
The transition towards a circular economy
requires the development of highly resource-
efficient business models that capitalise on the
waste-to-energy nexus. By implementing such
closed-loop frameworks, agro-industrial
enterprises can significantly minimise
environmental degradation while
simultaneously securing localised, decentralised
energy streams from organic residues.
The practical deployment of these circular
principles is deeply intertwined with the
optimisation of biogas technologies and their
secondary outputs. While the primary focus
often remains on biomethane generation, the
economic and environmental value of the by-
products cannot be overlooked. Lohosha et al.
(2023) demonstrated the high economic
efficiency of using digestate from biogas plants
as a biofertiliser for crops.
This practice directly aligns with the
rigorous environmental standards of the
European Green Deal, offering a viable
alternative to synthetic fertilisers, restoring soil
fertility, and completing the nutrient cycle in
agricultural ecosystems.
Ultimately, balancing the dual priorities of
energy independence and food security remains
a critical focus of contemporary research.
Tokarchuk et al. (2022) argue that resolving the
“food versus fuel” dilemma in Ukraine requires
a highly optimised land-use approach, ensuring
that land allocated to bioenergy crops does not
jeopardise national or global food supplies.
Addressing these multilayered challenges
demands a synthesised strategy in which
technological innovation, intellectual capital,
and ecological responsibility converge to drive
the sustainable post-war recovery of the agro-
industrial complex.
It should be noted that, despite in-depth
studies of individual aspects of the
bioeconomy’s functioning, a comprehensive,
spatially differentiated assessment of the real
energy potential of agricultural waste
(Awogbemi & Kallon, 2022; Yrjälä et al., 2022)
is lacking, one that accounts for environmental
determinants and current macroeconomic
conditions. The presence of a significant
theoretical basis is accompanied by a shortage
of pragmatic calculations that would integrate
strict requirements for maintaining the humus
balance and current logistical constraints into a
single model of the regional distribution of fuel
resources.
The outlined state of development of the
problem determines the relevance, structure, and
logic of this research. This study aims to
provide an assessment of the potential for
biofuel production from agricultural sector
waste and substantiate its strategic role in
ensuring the state’s energy independence. To
achieve this goal, the following research
questions were identified and addressed:
RQ 1. Analyse the structure and volumes
of the main types of agricultural waste (plant
residues and livestock waste) by region.
RQ 2. Assess the technical and energy
potential of biomass while accounting for the
need to preserve soil fertility and logistical
constraints.
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
139
RQ 3. Determine the share of replacement
of traditional energy resources (natural gas,
coal, and petroleum products) through the
introduction of biofuel technologies.
RQ 4. Identify key barriers (economic,
legislative, and technical) and formulate
recommendations to stimulate bioenergy
development in the agricultural sector.
Solving the outlined tasks will not only
enable the quantitative assessment of the
agricultural sector’s resource base but also
develop a holistic vision for transforming agro-
industrial complex waste into a strategic reserve
for energy independence. This study focuses on
refining methodological approaches for
calculating the energy equivalent of biomass,
taking into account modern agroecological
requirements and the territorial distribution of
raw materials.
The practical significance of the results
lies in their potential use by state bodies and
business entities to develop regional energy
strategies. This will contribute to the creation of
closed production cycles, which is critically
important for increasing the competitiveness of
domestic agribusiness in the context of
integration into the European economic space
and fulfilling climate-neutral obligations.
3. Methodology.
The methodological basis of the study is a
systematic approach to assess the resource
potential of the agro-industrial complex for the
formation of decentralised renewable energy
sources. The research and analytical
calculations were performed according to a
four-stage procedure: Stage 1 [Database
formation] ➔ Stage 2 [Potential Assessment] ➔
Stage 3 [Substitution calculation] ➔ Stage 4
[Identifying barriers]. To achieve the study’s
goal, we developed and tested our own
methodology to assess the integrated technical
and energy potential of biomass in the
agricultural sector.
Unlike existing approaches that often
assess biomass in isolation or calculate abstract
theoretical potential, the proposed methodology
is based on the principles of ecological and
technological screening. The model cuts off that
part of the straw that the soil needs to reproduce
the humus.
Livestock waste generated in individual
households cannot be profitably incorporated
into industrial production due to its high
dispersion. The integral technical and energy
potential of replacing fossil fuels with
agrobiomass (𝐸 ), expressed in tons of oil
equivalent, was calculated according to:
𝐸 ∑ 𝑉 ∗ 𝐾 ∗ 𝐾 ∗ 𝑄
∑ 𝑁 ∗ 𝐾 ∗ 𝑀 ∗ 𝑌 ∗ 𝜔 (1)
where,
𝑉 – gross harvest of the main product of
the i-th agricultural crop (wheat, corn,
sunflower, etc.) for the reporting period, tons;
𝐾 – residue-to-product ratio of the i-th
crop, indicating agricultural residues generated
per unit mass of the main product.;
𝐾 – ecological and logistical constraint
coefficient, indicating the share of crop residues
excluded from energy use and retained in the
field for soil conservation and humus balance
(assumed constant at 0.25–0.30);
𝑄 – lower heating value of dry crop
residues of the i-th crop, expressed in tons of oil
equivalent per ton of biomass (toe/t);
𝑁 – livestock population of the j-th
animal (cattle, pigs, poultry, etc.), heads;
𝐾 – industrial concentration coefficient
reflecting the share of animals in large-scale
commercial systems (0.85–0.90 poultry, 0.60–
0.65 pigs, 0.25–0.30 cattle), indicating the
fragmented structure of cattle farming;
𝑀 – annual manure production per head
of the j-th animal category, t/year;
𝑌 – specific yield of purified
biomethane (100% CH4) from anaerobic
digestion of manure, m³/t of substrate;
𝜔 – energy equivalent of converting cubic
meters of biomethane into tons of oil equivalent
(1000 m3 biomethane approximately 0.85 toe).
The formula integrates two autonomous
raw material blocks: by-products of crop
production and organic waste from livestock
farming and industrial processing. To determine
the share of substitution of traditional fuel and
energy resources (𝑍%), the indicator of total
energy potential (𝐸 ) obtained from the
formula was compared with the actual volumes
of consumption of natural gas, coal, and fuel oil
by regional consumers:
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
140
𝑍% ∗ 100 (2)
where,
𝑃𝐸 – total consumption of traditional
fuels in the region (in oil equivalent).
The application of this development
enabled the final assessment of Ukraine’s
biomass technical and energy potential at 4.63
million tons of oil equivalent, along with the
spatial decomposition into regional clusters.
4. Results.
The practical implementation of the
decarbonisation strategy and strengthening of
Ukraine's energy security within the framework
of the circular economy model requires, first, an
objective and detailed assessment of the
available raw material base. The transition from
linear resource use to closed cycles, in which
by-products and waste from the agro-industrial
complex are considered valuable energy
resources, necessitates a comprehensive analysis
of the volume generated.
To provide a holistic vision of the
transformation of agricultural biomass into a
strategic reserve of energy independence, this
section presents a quantitative, structured
assessment of the production potential of the
main biofuel types (solid fuels, biomethane,
bioethanol, and biodiesel).
Table 1 indicates a powerful yet
fluctuating raw material base during the study
period. The grain wedge is the fundamental
basis for generating solid biofuels and crop
residues. The production volumes of grain and
leguminous crops demonstrated wave-like
dynamics. After reaching a peak in 2023 (60.70
million tonnes) and a slight decline in 2024 (to
56.43 million tonnes), the figure rose again in
2025 (61.04 million tonnes).
This increase in production (by almost
8.2% compared to 2024) confirms a steady
trend towards higher potential volumes of
straw and other crop by-products suitable for
industrial combustion, pelleting and
briquetting.
Table 1. Production Volumes of Agricultural Crops in Ukraine by Producer
Categories, 2022–2025 (million tons).
Year
Type of
agricultural
holding
Sugar beet
(for
processing)
Cereal and
leguminous
crops
Winter rapeseed
and colza (spring
rapeseed)
Sunflower
seeds
Soya
beans
20
22
Total 9,94 54,75 3,32 11,35 3,46
Enterprises 9,41 42,16 3,30 9,76 3,18
Households 0,53 12,59 0,02 1,59 0,28
20
23
Total 13,18 60,70 4,19 12,88 4,80
Enterprises 12,47 46,74 4,17 11,08 4,41
Households 0,71 13,96 0,02 1,80 0,39
20
24
Total 12,80 56,43 3,61 11,01 6,07
Enterprises 12,11 43,45 3,59 9,47 5,58
Households 0,69 12,98 0,02 1,54 0,49
20
25
Total 11,69 61,04 3,21 10,24 4,98
Enterprises 11,06 47,61 3,20 8,81 4,58
Households 0,63 13,43 0,01 1,43 0,40
Source: based on the State Statistics Service of Ukraine (2026).
In this sector, households consistently
account for approximately 20–25% of the gross
harvest (12.59-13.96 million tonnes annually).
This part of the straw residue is too dispersed,
making its industrial extraction financially
impractical and potentially leaving it within the
scope of private use for the production of solid
biofuels or natural soil mineralisation (Table 2).
The agricultural production sector, which
is crucial to the liquid biofuels industry
(bioethanol, biodiesel) and to highly concentrated
biomethane, is characterised by scale. The
sunflower harvest remained stable, fluctuating
between 10.24 and 12.88 million tons, ensuring
an uninterrupted supply of valuable energy raw
materials, such as sunflower husks.
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
141
Table 2. Structure and Volume of Agricultural Waste Generation (Crop Residues and
Livestock Waste) by farm category, thousand tons.
All agricultural holdings Enterprises Households
2025
2025 in %
to 2024
2025
2025 in %
to 2024
2025
2025 in % to
2024
Cereal and leguminous crops 11786,9 105,8 8699,2 108,4 3087,7 99,2
wheat 5166,1 105,6 4015,5 107,5 1150,6 99,5
wheat winter 5000,4 106,1 3902,2 108,0 1098,2 99,6
wheat spring 165,7 92,7 113,3 90,5 52,4 97,7
maize 4540,8 111,1 3599,5 114,6 941,3 99,7
barley 1385,6 98,9 613,4 98,0 772,2 99,6
barley winter 592,2 104,5 417,6 105,5 174,6 102,1
barley spring 793,4 95,1 195,8 85,1 597,6 98,9
rye 64,9 92,1 28,9 87,7 36,0 95,9
rye winter 64,4 92,1 28,8 87,8 35,6 96,0
rye spring 0,5 85,5 0,1 75,0 0,4 88,4
oat 137,9 79,2 38,6 60,0 99,3 90,4
buckwheat 57,1 62,7 29,0 47,8 28,1 92,3
sorghum 19,9 109,7 16,2 109,2 3,7 111,8
millet 33,5 35,3 24,1 28,3 9,4 96,0
rice 2,8 91,1 2,8 91,1 – –
leguminous crops 370,3 124,4 323,6 128,9 46,7 100,0
bean 48,2 94,6 14,5 84,2 33,7 99,8
pea 278,8 132,0 266,2 133,9 12,6 101,3
Industrial crop 8770,2 93,5 7861,4 92,8 908,8 100,1
Soya beans 2079,8 76,5 1910,8 75,2 169,0 94,1
Curly flax (oil) 65,6 121,1 65,5 121,1 0,1 102,4
Mustard 13,9 32,7 13,2 31,6 0,7 96,8
Winter rapeseed and colza
(spring rapeseed)
1209,6 96,7 1204,0 96,8 5,6 80,3
winter rapeseed 1179,8 97,0 1174,8 97,1 5,0 78,9
colza (spring rapeseed) 29,8 87,1 29,2 87,0 0,6 92,5
Sunflower seeds 5161,1 102,8 4442,7 103,0 718,4 101,9
Fibre flax 0,5 124,0 0,5 124,0 – –
Hemp 3,0 219,8 3,0 219,8 – –
Sugar beet (for processing) 198,7 78,3 188,0 77,7 10,7 92,4
Fodder crops 1173,8 95,3 322,2 95,7 851,6 95,2
Fodder beet 144,1 95,8 0,1 80,2 144,0 95,9
Fodder melon crops 36,1 97,5 0,2 98,2 35,9 97,5
Fodder maize 189,8 99,3 181,3 99,4 8,5 96,7
Source: based on the State Statistics Service of Ukraine (2026).
The soybean sector saw rapid growth until
2024, when it reached an all-time high of 6.07
million tons, but in 2025, it declined to 4.98
million tons (a 17.9% reduction). The dynamics
of the rape harvest (winter and spring) mirror
those of industrial crops, with a decline in 2025
to 3.21 million tonnes after a maximum of 4.19
million tonnes in 2023.
Factory sugar beet production showed a
significant increase in 2023 (13.18 million
tonnes compared to 9.94 million tonnes in
2022). During 2024–2025, the collection
volumes decreased slightly to 12.80 million tons
and 11.69 million tons, respectively.
Despite this decrease, current volumes are
sufficient to provide sugar factories with raw
materials, which, in turn, allows for the
centralised accumulation of significant volumes
of associated processing waste (beet pulp and
molasses) directly at logistics hubs for the
production of biomethane and digestate.
An analysis of the structure and dynamics
of waste generation indicates that Ukraine’s
agricultural sector provides a powerful, albeit
somewhat unbalanced, base for renewable
energy development. Due to high yields, grain
and leguminous crops confidently remain the
main source of ecological raw materials.
Economics Ecology Socium e-ISSN 2786-8958
Volume 10 Issue 2 (2026) ISSN-L 2616-7107
142
In 2025, they produced over 11.7 million
tons of crop residues, showing a pleasing
growth of almost 6%. At the same time, the
share of biomass generated by wheat and corn
showed record growth rates of over 11% in
residues, which opens up excellent prospects for
large enterprises to collect industrial waste.
Industrial crops decreased their contribution by
6.5% this year, providing approximately 8.7
million tons of raw materials. This decrease was
due to a significant reduction in the production
of soybean residues and sugar beets in factories.
Sunflower production remained stable and
consistent, exceeding 5.1 million tons. This
proves that husks and stems remain the most
popular and financially profitable resources for
the production of fuel pellets and briquettes.
Fodder crops have unique characteristics, with
their residues totalling just over 1.1 million tons,
and this sector depends on private household
farms for almost three-quarters of its output.
As fodder beets and melons are primarily
grown in personal gardens, collecting such
waste on an industrial scale is quite difficult.
Therefore, to deploy powerful bioenergy
projects, the state and businesses should focus
on large agricultural enterprises that centrally
accumulate maise, wheat, and sunflower waste,
thereby minimising complex logistics costs.
The analysis in Table 3 shows that the
biogas efficiency depends directly on the dry
matter concentration in the substrate, which
determines the amount of organic matter
available for fermentation. The absolute leader
in terms of energy capacity is molasses from
sugar factories, which, due to its high dry matter
content (76–80%), provides a colossal gas yield
of 390–400 m³/t. High fuel efficiency is also
demonstrated by chicken litter and corn silage,
which, owing to their optimal biomass structure,
guarantee a stable release of 150–200 m³/t of
high-quality energy per ton.
Table 3. Technological Parameters and Energy Potential of Substrates of the Agro-
Industrial Complex for Biogas Generation (2026).
Raw material name DM, % Biogas output, m³/t CH4 content, %
Beet pulp (after storage) 10-17 55-90 54-55
Beet pulp (pressed) 18-22 95-115 54-55
Beet pulp (fresh) 6-9 34-50 54-55
Cattle manure (flush system) 5-6 15-18 55-58
Cattle manure (litter) 14-17 42-50 55-58
Chicken manure (unlittered) 25 90-100 58-60
Chicken droppings (litter) 60 150-160 58-60
Molasses (from sugar factories) 76-80 390-400 54-55
Pig manure 4-5 13-17 57-60
Beer grains 22-24 103-115 55-59
Distilled dregs (corn kernels) 6-11 46-52 54-56
After-alcohol bard (molasses) 11-12 42-45 54-56
After-alcohol dregs (wheat) 6-11 42-49 54-56
Corn Silage 33 180-200 52-54
Source: based on the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine (2025).
Substrates for beet sugar and alcohol
production have moderate energy potential,
which varies depending on the technology used
to prepare the raw materials. The mechanical
dehydration of fresh beet pulp to a pressed state
increases the dry matter content to 18–22% and
the specific biogas yield by more than twice, to
95–115 m³/t. Post-alcohol lees and beer grains
ensure a stable course of anaerobic fermentation
owing to their balanced chemical composition,
emitting gas with a high methane content.
Livestock effluents, particularly pig
manure and cattle manure from flushing
systems, have the most modest gas output
rates, not exceeding 18 m ³/t, owing to
excessive moisture and low dry matter
concentration (4–6 %) (Bioenergy Association
of Ukraine, 2025).
However, littered cattle manure and
unlittered chicken manure demonstrated
significantly higher fuel efficiencies owing to
lower water dilution.
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The poorest liquid livestock waste is a
diluent for dry industrial substrates, thereby
justifying the feasibility of implementing co-
fermentation technology to maximise methane
yield. The dynamics of animal populations and
the volume of manure and litter produced in
Ukraine from 2022 to 2025 indicate significant
structural changes in the livestock sector, which
directly affect the stability of the raw material
base for the biogas industry.
The most significant reduction in raw
material potential was observed in the cattle
sector, where herd size decreased from 2.30
million heads in 2022 to 1.80 million in 2025.
Given the highest specific waste generation rate
among all analysed animal species, which is 11
tons per head per year, this drop led to a
significant decrease in the gross volume of
cattle manure from 25.30 to 19.80 million tons.
Cattle remain the leading source of total organic
waste in the agro-industrial complex (Table 4).
The pig sector during the study period
showed relative stability, with a slight peak in
2023, when the livestock population reached
5.15 million heads, and the total manure volume
reached 9.27 million tons. A moderate decline
characterised the following years, and by 2025,
the number of pigs decreased to 4.64 million
heads, ensuring an annual generation of 8.35
million tons of liquid organic waste at a rate of
1.8 tons per animal.
Poultry farming was the only agricultural
sector to demonstrate overall positive dynamics
and flexibility amid market fluctuations. After a
temporary dip in 2024, the number of poultry of
all species in 2025 reached its highest level in 4
years, at 121.40 million heads. Despite a
minimum waste generation rate of 0.055 tons
per head per year, Ukrainian poultry farms
generated a record 6.68 million tons of valuable
chicken manure due to the large number of
livestock.
Table 4. Animal Population and Organic Waste Generation by year (2022–2025).
Animal
species
Year
Livestock (million
heads)
Production rate
(tons/head/year)
Total waste volume (million
tons per year)
Cattle
2022 2,30
11.0
25,30
2023 2,18 23,98
2024 2,05 22,55
2025 1,80 19,80
Pigs
2022 5,02
1.8
9,04
2023 5,15 9,27
2024 4,90 8,82
2025 4,64 8,35
Poultry (all
species)
2022 116,00
0.055
6,38
2023 120,50 6,63
2024 118,20 6,50
2025 121,40 6,68
Source: based on the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine (2005).
Given the dry matter concentration in
manure, the poultry sector demonstrates
investment potential for expanding the capacity
of biogas plants. The spatial distribution of
bioenergy resources enables assessment of the
potential to transform the agricultural sector into
a decentralised energy system.
The potential structures in Table 5 are
based on agroecological constraints limiting
straw removal to 25–30% to preserve soil humus
balance. The gross biomass energy potential is
estimated at 9.26 million tons of oil equivalent.
The calculations were adjusted for the
logistical availability coefficient, focusing
exclusively on consolidated waste streams from
large agricultural enterprises to eliminate the risk
of biomass dispersion in households. The
regional structure of biofuel production potential
in Ukraine in 2025 is characterised by
pronounced spatial differentiation and significant
volumes of renewable energy resources, with a
commercial potential, based on ecological and
technological screening, estimated at 4.63 million
tons of oil equivalent.
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Table 5. Regional Structure of Biofuel Production Potential in Ukraine, 2025 (thousand
tons of oil equivalent).
Region Bioethanol Biodiesel Solid biofuels Biogas Total Share, %
Vinnytsia 102,4 44,2 342,5 215,8 704,9 7,61
Volyn 31,2 14,8 108,4 64,5 218,9 2,36
Dnipropetrovsk 68,5 61,4 284,1 142,3 556,3 6,01
Donetsk 12,4 10,8 45,2 22,1 90,5 0,98
Zhytomyr 52,1 25,6 194,3 112,4 384,4 4,15
Zakarpattia 9,8 2,1 24,6 18,5 55,0 0,59
Zaporizhzhia 24,1 30,5 112,4 54,6 221,6 2,39
Ivano-Frankivsk 28,4 12,3 92,1 58,4 191,2 2,06
Kyiv 94,6 32,4 310,2 198,7 635,9 6,87
Kirovohrad 81,2 68,4 315,6 165,4 630,6 6,81
Luhansk 4,1 5,2 16,4 8,2 33,9 0,37
Lviv 45,6 21,5 154,2 96,5 317,8 3,43
Mykolaiv 48,2 52,3 210,5 105,2 416,2 4,49
Odessa 74,3 64,1 302,4 148,6 589,4 6,36
Poltava 114,2 48,6 365,4 232,1 760,3 8,21
Rivne 36,5 15,2 120,3 72,4 244,4 2,64
Sumy 76,4 34,1 248,5 146,2 505,2 5,46
Ternopil 78,5 26,4 234,1 152,4 491,4 5,31
Kharkiv 62,3 46,2 225,4 124,1 458,0 4,95
Kherson 14,2 16,5 62,4 30,2 123,3 1,33
Khmelnytskyi 96,8 34,7 298,7 194,5 624,7 6,75
Cherkasy 92,4 36,8 288,4 185,2 602,8 6,51
Chernivtsi 18,5 5,4 54,2 34,6 112,7 1,22
Chernihiv 91,2 32,1 294,6 178,4 596,3 6,44
TOTAL 1347,4 741,1 4462,4 2712,3 9263,2 100,00
Source: based on the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine (2025).
The national raw material balance
demonstrates a dominance of solid biofuels,
which account for the lion’s share of the total
volume (48.2%), confirming the priority and
high financial efficiency of using by-products of
crop production, in particular, straw of grain
crops and sunflower residues, for the direct
replacement of fossil fuels. The second-largest
structural element is biogas, the generation of
which is closely linked to the infrastructure of
large livestock complexes and food industry
enterprises, which act as logistical hubs to
minimise the costs of biomass collection.
Analysis of the geographical distribution
of potential shows that Ukraine’s key industrial
clusters are the Poltava, Vinnytsia, and
Kirovohrad regions, which together account for
almost a quarter of the country’s total energy
potential. The Poltava and Vinnytsia regions
achieved the highest performance owing to the
synergistic combination of powerful corn and
wheat residues with high-energy associated
wastes of the beet sugar complex, such as
molasses and pulp and livestock waste.
At the same time, the Kirovohrad region
maintained its leading position, mainly due to
the significant volumes of sunflower husks and
stalks, which are a financially profitable
resource for pelleting and briquetting. In
contrast to the central regions, the Northern and
Western macroregions demonstrate a more
moderate density of bioenergy resources, and
the lowest raw material potential is recorded in
Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions, which is
directly due to their natural and geographical
features and the structure of agricultural
production. The full practical implementation of
this spatially differentiated potential can provide
significant import substitution for traditional
fuel and energy resources, enabling the
replacement of substantial volumes of natural
gas, thermal coal, and petroleum products in
local heat and electricity supply systems and in
the state’s transport sector. Despite the
significant raw material potential of Ukrainian
fields and farms, the path from corn residues or
manure to usable kilowatts of energy remains
difficult due to several hidden stumbling blocks.
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To turn these challenges into effective
solutions, all obstacles and steps to overcome
them were combined into a balanced system
(Table 6).
The implementation of recommendations
will enable the transformation of the Ukrainian
agricultural sector into one that ensures stable
heat and electricity supplies for regions.
Table 6. Barrier–Strategy Matrix for Bioenergy Development in Agriculture.
Category Key Barriers Strategic Recommendations
Economic
and financial
The shortage of available “long” loans for
the construction of stations, the high cost
of equipment, and the long payback period
of projects under current conditions.
Introduction of preferential state lending, attraction
of international “green” grants and creation of
guarantee funds to protect investments.
Legislative
and
regulatory
Bureaucratic complexity of connecting
biogas plants to electricity and gas
networks, as well as the lack of clear rules
for long-term export of biomethane to the
EU.
Maximum simplification of permitting procedures,
launch of a transparent biomethane market, and
harmonization of Ukrainian environmental
certificates with European standards.
Technical and
logistical
Instability of the chemical composition of
raw materials by season, high costs of
harvesting and transporting biomass, and
lack of specialized equipment.
Transition of agricultural enterprises to co-
fermentation (joint fermentation), creation of
regional logistics hubs for fuel storage and
development of biomethane pipeline networks.
5. Discussion.
5.1 Agro-Industrial Waste Potential for
Energy Decentralisation in
Ukraine.
Ukraine’s agro-industrial complex has a
powerful renewable resource base capable of
serving as one of the cornerstones of post-war
energy decentralisation and decarbonisation of
the economy. Integrated assessment of the
technical and energy potential of biomass at
4.63 million tons of oil equivalent (toe) is
consistent with the fundamental conclusions of
leading domestic and European institutions. In
particular, the dominance of solid biofuels
(48.2% in the overall structure) correlates with
the high economic and financial efficiency of
attracting crop by-products to directly replace
coal and natural gas in local heating systems
(Kaletnik et al.,2021).
The regional differentiation of the agro-
energy potential identified in this study deserves
special attention. The concentration of key
resources in the Poltava, Vinnytsia, and
Kirovohrad regions indicates the feasibility of
forming inter-sectoral bioenergy clusters in the
Central macroregion. The high density of corn
and sunflower crop residues is combined with a
well-developed food industry and livestock
infrastructure (Skoutida et al., 2024).
This approach confirms the proposed
hypotheses (Hontaruk et al., 2024) regarding the
critical role of beet sugar and alcohol enterprises
in generating biogas and digestate.
Concentrating waste (pulp, molasses, and bran)
at industrial sites minimises logistical costs,
making these regions the primary drivers of
investment growth.
Unlike many optimistic estimates of
theoretical potential, the model presented in this
study is more restrained and pragmatic. It is
based on environmental constraints (preserving
the humus balance by removing no more than
25–30% of straw) and logistical accessibility
(considering only the large-scale sector of
enterprises). Such an adjustment to the
methodology is considered critically important
because, as our calculations demonstrate using
the example of fodder crops and waste from the
private livestock sector, the high dispersion of
raw materials within households makes their
industrial collection economically impractical.
However, the transition of the Ukrainian
agro-industrial complex to closed circular
economy cycles is hampered by a complex of
interconnected barriers. The economic shortage
of long-term investment capital, combined with
the technical instability of biomass and
bureaucratic obstacles to connecting to energy
networks, creates high risks for businesses.
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Overcoming these challenges requires not
only targeted subsidies but also a systemic
transformation of state regulation, from
harmonising environmental certificates with the
requirements of the European Green Deal to
developing regional logistics hubs and digital
platforms for managing raw material flows.
Promising areas of further scientific
exploration in the context of the outlined issues
are modelling the dynamics of energy potential,
considering climate change and transformation
of the structure of sown areas, as well as a
detailed analysis of the economic efficiency of
co-fermentation of various types of substrates to
maximise biomethane yield in the conditions of
specific regional clusters.
5.2. Limitations.
The study of the spatially differentiated
potential for biofuel production in Ukraine in
2025 has several methodological and
geopolitical limitations, which should be
considered when using the results in practice.
The regional structure developed in this
study is based on the State Statistics Service of
Ukraine, which reflects the real state of the
agricultural sector in government-controlled
territories. Accordingly, the calculations do not
consider the theoretical potential of biomass
from temporarily occupied territories, territories
where active hostilities are underway, or
territories with significant landmines, as full-
fledged agricultural production and the
logistical collection of by-products are currently
technically impossible there.
The potential assessment was calculated
for average agro-climatic conditions in 2025,
and the basic trends in yield and sown areas of
previous periods were extrapolated. The applied
methodology cannot fully predict or eliminate
the impact of force majeure weather anomalies.
Extreme droughts, prolonged rains during
harvest, and anomalous temperature fluctuations
can locally or nationwide alter the gross crop
harvest and, consequently, the volume of
available plant residues. The forecast indicators
formed are an optimised potential model under
conditions of relative stability of current agro-
production factors and require flexible
adjustment in the event of the deoccupation of
territories or significant climate change.
6. Conclusions.
A comprehensive assessment of the
technical and energy potential of biomass in
Ukraine’s agricultural sector was conducted,
and its strategic role in ensuring energy
decentralisation and the energy independence
was substantiated. Analysis of the formation of
the raw material base has revealed a high spatial
concentration of agro-energy resources. The key
areas for biomass generation are Poltava,
Vinnytsia and Kirovohrad regions. The waste
structure is clearly dominated by crop by-
products (corn residues, sunflower, and grain
straw). It has been established that the most
promising locations for the deployment of
industrial biogas capacities are food industry
enterprises (sugar and alcohol plants), where
large, homogeneous volumes of raw materials
(pulp, molasses, and pomace) are concentrated,
thereby minimising logistics costs.
The application of the developed
mathematical model enabled a pragmatic,
environmentally safe assessment of the integral
technical and energy potential of biomass in
Ukraine, amounting to 4.63 million toe. Unlike
existing theoretical approaches, the model, for
the first time, considered a strict agro-ecological
criterion (removal of no more than 25–30% of
plant residues to preserve the humus balance)
and the institutional barrier to large-scale
commercialisation (screening out dispersed
livestock waste in private households). In the
available potential structure, 48.2% falls under
solid biofuels, confirming their priority for
primary commercialisation.
It has been proven that the effective use of
the calculated potential of agrobiomass can
provide a significant replacement for scarce
fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and coal, in
local heat and power supply systems.
The transformation of organic waste from
large-scale complexes into biomethane and
digestate (organic fertilisers) creates a closed
production cycle that not only strengthens
energy security in martial law conditions but
also drives the decarbonisation of the industry.
It has been identified that a lack of long-
term investment capital hampers the transition
of the Ukrainian agricultural industry to
circular bioeconomy models.
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Regulatory obstacles to the integration of
biomethane into gas transportation networks,
and instability in raw material supply chains.
To overcome these barriers, a set of tools
has been proposed, including the digitalisation
of raw material flows management, the
development of regional logistics hubs, and the
harmonisation of national environmental
certificates with EU standards. The
accumulation of intellectual capital and the
digitalisation of enterprises are the fundamental
basis for the industry’s flexible adaptation to the
conditions of the digital economy.
The practical significance of the results
lies in the development of applied tools for state
bodies and business entities to formulate post-
war energy decentralisation strategies and
regional programmes for renewable energy
development, aimed at increasing the global
competitiveness of domestic agribusiness.
Conflict of Interest Statement.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Funding Disclosure.
The research received no external funding.
Acknowledgements.
This study was conducted within the
framework of the 2026 research project
“Development of the concept of marketing
support for the development of alternative
energy in the agricultural sector”
(No. 2025.05/0048), supported by the Grant of
the President of Ukraine for young scientists.
AI Use Statement.
The authors used Grammarly to improve
language clarity and readability. The authors
reviewed and edited the output and take full
responsibility for the content of the article.
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| spelling | oai:ojs2.www.ees-journal.com:article-3492026-06-30T15:36:43Z Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production Alieksieieva, Olha Lutkovska, Svitlana Mazur, Kateryna Hontaruk, Yaroslav Agricultural Waste, Agro-Industrial Complex, Biomass, Circular Economy, Energy Potential. Agricultural Waste, Agro-Industrial Complex, Biomass, Circular Economy, Energy Potential. Background. The transformation of agro-industrial waste into a strategic resource for energy decentralisation is crucial. In view of modern security challenges and the European Green Deal, there is a growing need for agro-industrial enterprises to transition to closed circular bioeconomy cycles, where intellectual capital and digitalisation serve as the basis for innovative progress. Purpose. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive assessment the potential for biofuel production from waste in the agricultural sector of Ukraine and justify its strategic role in ensuring energy independence, using a model to assess the technical and energy potential of biomass, taking into account environmental and logistical constraints. Findings. A model of the integrated technical and energy potential of the agro-industrial complex biomass was developed and tested based on ecological and technological screening principles for the period 2022-2025. The methodology considers the agro-ecological qualification (removal of no more than 25–30% of plant residues to preserve humus) and the institutional barrier of large-scale commercialisation (screening of dispersed waste from the private livestock sector), based on which the commercial potential of Ukrainian agro-biomass was determined at the level of 4.63 million tons of oil equivalent (toe) and its regional decomposition was carried out. The involvement of food industry enterprises (sugar and alcohol plants) as logistics hubs for biomethane and digestate production has optimised supply chains and reduced logistics costs by 30–40% compared to the decentralised collection of distributed biomass. Due to the concentration of significant volumes of homogeneous waste at the industrial sites of these enterprises, the maximum methane yield is achieved through co-fermentation, increasing the investment attractiveness of biogas projects and accelerating their payback. Implications. The effective conversion of agricultural waste into biofuels can significantly reduce the consumption of fossil resources (natural gas and coal) in local heat and power supply systems. The main barriers to the development of circular models are a lack of long-term  investment capital and institutional restrictions on the integration of biomethane into the network. The practical significance of the results lies in the development of applied tools for government agencies and businesses to support regional energy development strategies and climate neutrality programs. Background. The transformation of agro-industrial waste into a strategic resource for energy decentralisation is crucial. In view of modern security challenges and the European Green Deal, there is a growing need for agro-industrial enterprises to transition to closed circular bioeconomy cycles, where intellectual capital and digitalisation serve as the basis for innovative progress. Purpose. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive assessment the potential for biofuel production from waste in the agricultural sector of Ukraine and justify its strategic role in ensuring energy independence, using a model to assess the technical and energy potential of biomass, taking into account environmental and logistical constraints. Findings. A model of the integrated technical and energy potential of the agro-industrial complex biomass was developed and tested based on ecological and technological screening principles for the period 2022-2025. The methodology considers the agro-ecological qualification (removal of no more than 25–30% of plant residues to preserve humus) and the institutional barrier of large-scale commercialisation (screening of dispersed waste from the private livestock sector), based on which the commercial potential of Ukrainian agro-biomass was determined at the level of 4.63 million tons of oil equivalent (toe) and its regional decomposition was carried out. The involvement of food industry enterprises (sugar and alcohol plants) as logistics hubs for biomethane and digestate production has optimised supply chains and reduced logistics costs by 30–40% compared to the decentralised collection of distributed biomass. Due to the concentration of significant volumes of homogeneous waste at the industrial sites of these enterprises, the maximum methane yield is achieved through co-fermentation, increasing the investment attractiveness of biogas projects and accelerating their payback. Implications. The effective conversion of agricultural waste into biofuels can significantly reduce the consumption of fossil resources (natural gas and coal) in local heat and power supply systems. The main barriers to the development of circular models are a lack of long-term  investment capital and institutional restrictions on the integration of biomethane into the network. The practical significance of the results lies in the development of applied tools for government agencies and businesses to support regional energy development strategies and climate neutrality programs. Dr. Viktor Koval 2026-06-30 Article Article Peer-reviewed Article application/pdf https://ees-journal.com/index.php/journal/article/view/349 10.61954/2616-7107/2026.10.2-10 Economics Ecology Socium; Vol. 10 No. 2 (2026): Economics Ecology Socium; 136-148 Економіка Екологія Соціум; Том 10 № 2 (2026): Economics Ecology Socium; 136-148 2616-7107 2616-7107 10.61954/2616-7107/2026.10.2 en https://ees-journal.com/index.php/journal/article/view/349/301 Copyright (c) 2026 Economics Ecology Socium https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 |
| spellingShingle | Agricultural Waste Agro-Industrial Complex Biomass Circular Economy Energy Potential. Alieksieieva, Olha Lutkovska, Svitlana Mazur, Kateryna Hontaruk, Yaroslav Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title | Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title_alt | Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title_full | Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title_short | Assessment of Agricultural Waste Energy Potential for Circular Economy and Biofuel Production |
| title_sort | assessment of agricultural waste energy potential for circular economy and biofuel production |
| topic | Agricultural Waste Agro-Industrial Complex Biomass Circular Economy Energy Potential. |
| topic_facet | Agricultural Waste Agro-Industrial Complex Biomass Circular Economy Energy Potential. Agricultural Waste Agro-Industrial Complex Biomass Circular Economy Energy Potential. |
| url | https://ees-journal.com/index.php/journal/article/view/349 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alieksieievaolha assessmentofagriculturalwasteenergypotentialforcirculareconomyandbiofuelproduction AT lutkovskasvitlana assessmentofagriculturalwasteenergypotentialforcirculareconomyandbiofuelproduction AT mazurkateryna assessmentofagriculturalwasteenergypotentialforcirculareconomyandbiofuelproduction AT hontarukyaroslav assessmentofagriculturalwasteenergypotentialforcirculareconomyandbiofuelproduction |