J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2010, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (1): 112-121.DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00903.x

• Invited Expert Reviews • Previous Articles    

Marginal Land-based Biomass Energy Production in China

Ya Tang1,2*, Jia-sui Xie1 and Shu Geng2,3   

  1. 1Department of Environment, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
    2School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
    3University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
  • Received:2009-09-30 Accepted:2009-11-01 Published:2010-01-01
  • About author:*Author for correspondence Tel: +86 28 8541 5108; Fax: +86 28 8541 5108 or +86 28 8540 5613; E-mail: tangya999@gmail.com doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00903.x

Abstract:

Fast economic development in China has resulted in a significant increase in energy demand. Coal accounts for 70% of China’s primary energy consumption and its combustion has caused many environmental and health problems. Energy security and environmental protection requirements are the main drivers for renewable energy development in China. Small farmland and food security
make bioenergy derived from corn or sugarcane unacceptable to China: the focus should be on generating bioenergy from lignocellulosic feedstock sources. As China cannot afford biomass
energy production from its croplands, marginal lands may play an important role in biomass energy production. Although on a small scale, marginal land has already been used for various purposes. It is estimated that some 45 million hm2 of marginal land could be brought into high potential biomass energy production. For the success of such an initiative, it will likely be necessary to develop multipurpose plants. A case study, carried out on marginal land in Ningnan County, Sichuan Province with per capita cropland of 0.07 ha, indicated that some 380 000 tons of dry biomass could be produced each year from annual pruning of mulberry trees. This study supports the feasibility of producing large quantities of biomass from marginal land sources.

Tang Y, Xie JS, Geng S (2010) Marginal land-based biomass energy production in China. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 52(1), 112–121.
 

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