Reverse logistics network design for a biogas plant: An approach based on MILP optimization and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP)

Among sustainable energy production processes, methanation (anaerobic co-digestion) has a high potential to valorize organic residual waste by exploiting its energetic capacities in the form of biogas. Nevertheless, at the early stage of the project, decisions must be made concerning the network used to supply biomass to the anaerobic co-digestion facility. However, these decisions involve complex hierarchical processes, taking into account the best compromise to be found among diverse factors and actors (economic, social, environmental, etc.). In this article a systematic approach integrating Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) optimization and Analytical Hierarchical Process is proposed. It will allow project managers to evaluate possible scenarios for the implementation of an anaerobic co-digestion logistics network in order to facilitate the integration of the preferences of the stakeholders involved in the project. The approach proposed is then illustrated by the design of a municipal biogas facility in Nancy, France. (C) 2015 The Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.