Potential Environmental Benefits from Increased Use of Bioenergy in China |
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Authors: | Shuyang Fan Bill Freedman Jixi Gao |
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Institution: | (1) Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Number 9, Block 4, Renmingnan Road, Chengdu, China, 610041;(2) Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China, 100049;(3) Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China, 100012;(4) Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4J1 |
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Abstract: | Because of its large population and rapidly growing economy, China is confronting a serious energy shortage and daunting environmental
problems. An increased use of fuels derived from biomass could relieve some demand for nonrenewable sources of energy while
providing environmental benefits in terms of cleaner air and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases. In 2003, China generated
about 25.9 × 108 metric tons of industrial waste (liquid + solid), 14.7 × 108 metric tons/year (t/y) of manure (livestock + human), 7.1 × 108 t/y of crop residues and food-processing byproducts, 2 × 108 t/y of fuelwood and wood manufacturing residues, and 1.5 × 108 t/y of municipal waste. Biofuels derived from these materials could potentially displace the use of about 4.12 × 108 t/y of coal and 3.75 × 106 t/y of petroleum. An increased bioenergy use of this magnitude would help to reduce the emissions of key air pollutants:
SO2 by 11.6 × 106 t/y, NOX by 1.48 × 106 t/y, CO2 by 1.07 × 109 t/y, and CH4 by 50 × 106 t/y. The reduced SO2 emissions would be equivalent to 54% of the national emissions in 2003, whereas those for CO2 are 30%. It is important to recognize, however, that large increases in the use of biomass fuels also could result in socioeconomic
and environmental problems such as less production of food and damage caused to natural habitats. |
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Keywords: | Air pollutants Bioenergy Biomass Carbon dioxide China Greenhouse gases People’ s Republic of China Renewable energy |
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