Benefit analysis of multi-approach biomass energy utilization toward carbon neutrality

Jiaoyue Wang; Jingying Fu; Zhitong Zhao; Longfei Bing; Fengming Xi; Feng Wang; Jiang Dong; Shiyun Wang; Gang Lin; Yan Yin; Qinqin Hu

doi:10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100423

Benefit analysis of multi-approach biomass energy utilization toward carbon neutrality

Innovation (Camb). 2023 Apr 13;4(3):100423. doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100423. eCollection 2023 May 15.

Authors

Jiaoyue Wang^{1

2

3}, Jingying Fu^{4

5}, Zhitong Zhao^{6

7}, Longfei Bing^{1

2

3}, Fengming Xi^{1

2

3}, Feng Wang⁷, Jiang Dong^{4

5}, Shiyun Wang⁸, Gang Lin⁴, Yan Yin^{1

2

3}, Qinqin Hu^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
² Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Neutrality, Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110016, China.
⁴ Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
⁵ College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
⁶ College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.
⁷ Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
⁸ Department of Science, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang 110136, China.

Abstract

To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biomass has been increasingly developed as a renewable and clean alternative to fossil fuels because of its carbon-neutral characteristics. China has been investigating the rational development and use of bioenergy for developing its clean energy and achieving carbon neutrality. Substituting fossil fuels with multi-source and multi-approach utilized bioenergy and corresponding carbon reduction in China remain largely unexplored. Here, a comprehensive bioenergy accounting model with a multi-dimensional analysis was developed by combining spatial, life cycle, and multi-path analyses. Accordingly, the bioenergy production potential and GHG emission reduction for each distinct type of biomass feedstock through different conversion pathways were estimated. The sum of all available organic waste (21.55 EJ yr^-1) and energy plants on marginal land (11.77 EJ yr^-1) in China produced 23.30 EJ of bioenergy and reduced 2,535.32 Mt CO₂-eq emissions, accounting for 19.48% and 25.61% of China's total energy production and carbon emissions in 2020, respectively. When focusing on the carbon emission mitigation potential of substituting bioenergy for conventional counterparts, bioelectricity was the most effective, and its potential was 4.45 and 8.58 times higher than that of gaseous and liquid fuel alternatives, respectively. In this study, life cycle emission reductions were maximized by a mix of bioenergy end uses based on biomass properties, with an optimal 78.56% bioenergy allocation from biodiesel, densified solid biofuel, biohydrogen, and biochar. The main regional bioenergy GHG mitigation focused on the Jiangsu, Sichuan, Guangxi, Henan, and Guangdong provinces, contributing to 31.32% of the total GHG mitigation potential. This study provides valuable guidance on exploiting untapped biomass resources in China to secure carbon neutrality by 2060.

Keywords: bioenergy; biomass resources; carbon emission reduction; carbon neutrality; energy conservation.