Study Examines the Use of Banana Peels for Energy Production and Agricultural Inputs

Every year, Brazil produces about 80 million metric tons of solid waste, but only a small portion of that volume is recycled. Most of this material, which currently represents an environmental liability, can be transformed into a source of renewable energy and new value-added products.

It is precisely this potential that brings together researchers from Coppe/UFRJ and Brunel University London (England) in the South-East-North Network on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Waste-to-Energy Technologies (SEN4WTE) project, an initiative dedicated to assessing the sustainability of technologies capable of converting waste into energy, known as waste-to-energy (WtE).

One of the studies focuses on an abundant and underutilized waste product: banana peels. It is estimated that more than 83,000 metric tons of this material are discarded annually in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Instead of simply being discarded, these peels can be converted, through pyrolysis, into biogas, bio-oil, and biochar—products with the potential to generate energy, fertilizers, and other inputs. The research demonstrates how waste reuse can drive the circular economy, reduce environmental impacts, and generate social and economic benefits.

The project is coordinated by Professor Amaro Pereira of the Energy Planning Program (PPE) at COPPE, in partnership with Professor Muhammad Shafique of Brunel University London. Researchers from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy (NITT) in India, the University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila (UET Taxila) in Pakistan, and the Jülich Research Center in Germany are also participating.

From agribusiness to energy production

The study is being conducted in partnership with Fumel, a candy manufacturer in Cachoeiras de Macacu (RJ), which generates about two metric tons of banana peels daily. “They were looking for an environmentally appropriate disposal way  for this waste. From there, our students began studying the life cycle of banana peel pyrolysis, while Professor Henrique Pacheco, from the Chemical Engineering Program at COPPE, was responsible for characterizing the oil obtained through the process,” explains Amaro Pereira.

In addition to bio-oil, pyrolysis produces biogas that can be used for domestic purposes. “This biogas can replace the use of firewood for cooking—a practice that still persists in many regions of Brazil and is an example of energy poverty. It’s a technology that makes use of waste and, at the same time, can improve people’s quality of life,” the researcher highlights.

Another byproduct is biochar, which can be used both as activated carbon and as fertilizer. Tests conducted by researchers at the Mineral Technology Center (Cetem) have shown that the material has high agronomic potential.

“Brazil’s dependence on fertilizer imports became even more evident after the war between Russia and Ukraine. Producing fertilizer from agribusiness waste represents an important opportunity for the country. The challenge is to integrate these solutions into the production chain itself, thereby strengthening the circular economy,” says Amaro.

Assessing Environmental and Social Impacts

In addition to the technological aspects, the project aims to understand the environmental and social impacts of converting waste into energy.

To this end, the team uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) methodologies, which enable them to analyze everything from the technology’s environmental impacts to its effects on communities, job creation, the use of natural resources, and quality of life.

This approach broadens our understanding of the feasibility of waste-to-energy technologies and can help guide public policies aimed at expanding renewable energy sources and promoting a socially just energy transition.

By the end of the year, Coppe will host the international researchers involved in SEN4WTE for a workshop that will present the project’s results and discuss strategies for expanding the adoption of waste-to-energy technologies in Brazil.