Valorisation Pathways Analysis of Marine and Coastal Resources for Renewable Energy Carriers and High Value Bioproducts in La Guajira, Colombia

Coastal ecosystems represent a complex and dynamic interface for renewable energy development, combining solar radiation, coastal winds, and marine biomass. In regions such as La Guajira (Colombia), these resources create a unique opportunity to design hybrid systems that integrate solar, wind, and bio-based energy generation. This study applied a multicriteria assessment encompassing technical, economic, environmental, and social dimensions to evaluate the feasibility of this integration. The results indicate that La Guajira’s coastal zone can be considered a “natural energy laboratory” due to its exceptional solar and wind conditions and its abundance of marine biomass such as sargassum, seaweed, and fishing waste. While the technical potential of these resources is high, particularly for hybrid solar–wind systems and bioenergy production, economic challenges persist, mainly related to biomass collection, pre-treatment, and drying. Environmentally, the valorisation of problematic macroalgae such as sargassum contributes to waste reduction and ecosystem restoration. Socially, the development of coastal bioeconomy initiatives can generate employment and foster community engagement in sustainable practices. Overall, the multicriteria analysis reveals that integrating coastal renewable resources could drive the transition towards a circular, inclusive, and low-carbon bioeconomy in coastal territories such as La Guajira.