Integrated Environmental and Energy Assessment of a Trigeneration System Using Agricultural Residues for Rural Decarbonization in Sucre Department, Colombia

The need to decarbonize the global energy sector and mitigate the effects of climate change demands a transition to efficient and decentralized renewable energy systems. This study evaluates the thermodynamic and environmental performance of a trigeneration system based on an Organic Rankine Cycle utilizing residual biomass from cassava, oil palm, and rice in Sucre, Colombia. Modeled in Aspen Plus V14 with R1233zd as the working fluid, the system achieved electrical efficiencies of 7.13% (North) and 8.11% (South). Trigeneration integration enabled overall efficiencies above 30% by leveraging waste heat for rice and cassava drying and milk refrigeration via a single-effect absorption cycle. Life Cycle Assessment in SimaPro v.9 showed that the North region reduces global warming potential by 21% compared to the conventional grid. However, sustainability in the South region is highly dependent on logistical optimization, as transportation and pretreatment showed vulnerabilities regarding ecotoxicity and terrestrial acidification. With a regional potential of 944,249 MWh/year, this model offers a scalable solution for rural energy autonomy.