Strategic approach to accelerating regional bioenergy development: Bioelectricity for emission reduction and sustainability

• Each hectare of forest waste can save 11.121 tCO 2 e by preventing forest fires and an additional 3.64 tCO 2 per hectare by replacing grid electricity. • If the projected target is achieved, it has the potential to reduce 1.7 Mtco 2 e through forest fire prevention and an additional 0.49 Mtco 2 e by replacing carbon-based grid electricity. • Twenty-nine SWOT factors are assessed for small-scale power plants with capacities below 250 kW. • The opportunity variable, prioritized with a weight of 0.6304 among SWOT variables, holds the highest importance. • Utilizing forest waste for energy generation exhibits the highest potential for removing and utilizing waste forest biomass to prevent forest fires. The western Himalayas hold significant potential for generating bioelectricity from dry pine needle biomass. This approach provides multiple benefits, including forest fire prevention, electricity generation, and emission reduction. However, despite these advantages, the growth of this sector has fallen short of expectations. The projected electricity generation potential from pine needle biomass in this region could lead to a significant annual emission reduction of 1.7 MtCO 2 e through forest fire prevention and an additional 0.49 MtCO 2 e by displacing carbon-intensive grid electricity. Regional bioenergy development plays a crucial role in the global energy transition and aligns with SDG 13, "Climate Action," and SDG 7, "Affordable and Clean Energy." By focusing on bioenergy as a renewable and accessible energy source, local and regional communities can contribute to climate action while simultaneously ensuring affordable and clean energy for their communities. Therefore, this paper employs a hybrid SWOT-AHP analysis as a strategic planning tool to achieve emission reduction targets by stimulating regional bioenergy growth. Twenty-nine SWOT factors were identified under four variables, and then the AHP technique was employed to assign priority weights to both SWOT variables and factors. Combining SWOT with AHP analysis provides quantitatively determined priorities for the factors, enabling their objective comparison. Eventually, this study offers a comprehensive perspective that leads to policy recommendations and serves as a valuable resource for relevant stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers seeking to achieve emission reduction goals through bioelectricity generation.