Production processes, techno-economic and policy challenges of bioenergy production from fruit and vegetable wastes

The striking interest in the quest for adopting clean and renewable bioenergy is a proactive step towards limiting the hike of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, global warming, climate change mitigation and push for ensuring the attainment of affordable and sustainable energy for all as campaigned by sustainable development goals (SDGs) 13 and 7, respectively. As an endowed bioresource, biomass is an abundant and renewable energy source derived from huge organic matter content. However, fruit and vegetable waste (FVWs) represents a type of biomass residue that, rather than being left to cause environmental pollution and contamination, can be utilized to generate bioenergy like biogas, biohydrogen, bioethanol, and biodiesel. Conceivably, this can be one solution to multiple problems such as energy deficit, waste management, landfill and incinerated emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), inflict of unpleasant odour, protecting natural scenery, and other myriad environmental problems. Despite the abundant benefits and potential that come with converting FVWs into bioenergy, the technological progress in utilizing FVWs for bioenergy has been limited. As a result, key stakeholders and other active players in the global energy industry lack adequate information regarding the opportunities therein for scaling up. Hence, this review highlights the opportunities of utilizing FVWs for bioenergy production and outlines certain challenges across the various production processes, techno-economic and policy issues.