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Circular economy principles can lead to a series of opportunities to tackle climate change, particularly in cities of developing countries where the generation of waste, consumption and demand for energy is growing rapidly. This paper aims to advance the understanding of the expansion of circularity for tackling climate change using biomass for energy at the urban scale. In addition, little is known about how Circular Economy (CE) flows can be quantitatively integrated, what potential trade-offs exist in promoting Circular Economy using biomass, and how governance models can integrate these flows and contribute to a Circular Economy transition in cities. Based on an empirical study of a city in India, where the private sector participation through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model enabled the use of urban wastewater in thermal power plants, the study presents the viability of Circular Economy models at the city scale. The feasibility of a further expansion of this circularity by co-firing biomass in local thermal power plants was analyzed, as a potential solution for reducing pollution and carbon emissions in a hard-to-abate sector. The result indicated an average 20.5 MJ kg−1 calorific value for torrefied mixed biomass pellets from crop residues, which, if applied to about 447 kt y−1 surplus biomass available in Nagpur would amount to 9.18 PJ of energy (per year). Overall, local power plants demanded about 19.85 Mt of coal in 2017–18, equivalent to 297.8 PJ in that fiscal year. Thus, the supply of torrefied pellets from peri-urban crop residues can meet between 2 and 3% of the demand from coal-fired power plants, resulting in a 0.3% decrease in the emissions from the power sector in India in 2017–18 (i.e., 922 MtCO 2), benefiting different sectors and levels of government. The analysis provides a framework for understanding the technical and institutional possibilities for strengthening the relationship between circular economy and climate change in the cities of developing countries by connecting flows and systems within and beyond urban centers. Therefore, the expansion of Circular Economy in cities can occur by integrating urban sectors and policy coordination at different levels of governance. Partnerships between local governments, utilities, and civil society for co-managing energy, water, and waste in cities can reduce the financial burden on national governments, including meeting national emission targets. [Display omitted] • Urban circular economy can be advanced using biomass in thermal power plants. • Our model estimates biomass contribution to national decarbonization targets. • Biomass pellets can meet between 2 and 3% of the demand from local coal-fired power plants. • Such replacement accounts for a 0.3% decrease (or 922 MtCO 2) in the emissions from India's power sector. • Results contribute to the design of CE models for cities and regions by including different levels of government and sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: India''s energy challenges are multi-pronged. They are manifested through growing demand for modern energy carriers, a fossil fuel dominated energy system facing a severe resource crunch, the need for creating access to quality energy for the large section of deprived population, vulnerable energy security, local and global pollution regimes and the need for sustaining economic development. Renewable energy is considered as one of the most promising alternatives. Recognizing this potential, India has been implementing one of the largest renewable energy programmes in the world. Among the renewable energy technologies, bioenergy has a large diverse portfolio including efficient biomass stoves, biogas, biomass combustion and gasification and process heat and liquid fuels. India has also formulated and implemented a number of innovative policies and programmes to promote bioenergy technologies. However, according to some preliminary studies, the success rate is marginal compared to the potential available. This limited success is a clear indicator of the need for a serious reassessment of the bioenergy programme. Further, a realization of the need for adopting a sustainable energy path to address the above challenges will be the guiding force in this reassessment. In this paper an attempt is made to consider the potential of bioenergy to meet the rural energy needs: (1) biomass combustion and gasification for electricity; (2) biomethanation for cooking energy (gas) and electricity; and (3) efficient wood-burning devices for cooking. The paper focuses on analysing the effectiveness of bioenergy in creating this rural energy access and its sustainability in the long run through assessing: the demand for bioenergy and potential that could be created; technologies, status of commercialization and technology transfer and dissemination in India; economic and environmental performance and impacts; bioenergy policies, regulatory measures and barrier analysis. The whole assessment aims at presenting bioenergy as an integral part of a sustainable energy strategy for India. The results show that bioenergy technology (BET) alternatives compare favourably with the conventional ones. The cost comparisons show that the unit costs of BET alternatives are in the range of 15–187% of the conventional alternatives. The climate change benefits in terms of carbon emission reductions are to the tune of 110T C per year provided the available potential of BETs are utilized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]