Waste and Sustainable Biomass Exploitation in Jordan: Implementation and Potential Pathways

Abstract

Agricultural residues, municipal organic waste, animal manure, and food-processing residues represent promising resources for sustainable waste-based bioenergy production. In addition to serving as renewable energy sources, these biomass resources can contribute to improved waste management, rural development, and environmental protection. In the context of global efforts to accelerate the transition toward sustainable energy systems, biomass and bioenergy are increasingly being investigated alongside other renewable energy technologies. Jordan faces significant challenges related to its dependence on imported fossil fuels and the associated economic and environmental impacts. Fluctuations in international oil prices, energy security concerns, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have encouraged Jordan to explore alternative and renewable energy options. Bioenergy offers a potential pathway to diversify the national energy mix while also addressing organic waste management and supporting rural and agricultural sectors. This study assesses the current status of bioenergy in Jordan and reviews the potential of available biomass resources, including agricultural residues, municipal organic waste, animal manure, olive-industry residues, sewage sludge, and food-processing waste. It matches these resources with suitable conversion technologies and provides a qualitative, literature-based discussion of their environmental and socioeconomic implications and the principal conditions affecting implementation. The study also identifies the main technical, logistical, financial, institutional, and regulatory barriers to bioenergy deployment and proposes practical recommendations for policy development, pilot projects, financing mechanisms, and local capacity building. The harmonized results indicate a combined energy potential of approximately 25.3 PJ/year for animal manure and agricultural residues reported on a comparable basis, with animal manure contributing approximately 73% of this total. A screening-level recoverability assessment estimates that approximately 2.55 Mt/year of biomass could potentially be recoverable under the central scenario, compared with 1.94 and 3.17 Mt/year under the low and high scenarios, respectively, excluding sewage sludge. A published theoretical estimate indicates a biogas-derived electricity potential of approximately 960.9 GWh/year, equivalent to about 5.1% of Jordan’s electricity consumption in 2019. The results identify animal manure, source-separated organic municipal waste, sewage sludge, and concentrated food-processing residues as the most relevant near-term resources. These findings can support policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders in prioritizing locally appropriate waste-based bioenergy pathways.