Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.2.1 Utilizing Biomass Energy
China holds abundant biomass energy resources with 5 billion tons every year and
more than half coming from crop residues. Biomass energy is the third largest
energy resource in the country.
Consumption accounts for about 15 % of the total. It is the only renewable
energy resource which can be transported and stored and used primarily for power
generation or transforming into “green gas” and “biological oil.”
The earliest utilization of biomass energy is through converting it into alterna-
tive oil, namely gasohol. By 2008, the national amount of fuel ethanol production
and sales stood at 1.65 million tons, which made China the third largest fuel ethanol
producers in the world, following Brazil and the U.S.
Seven biodiesel manufacturing enterprise are operating in China. Each holds the
capacity to produce more than 1 million tons annually.
Total methane gas generation capacity amounted to 800,000 kW in China in
2010, while it is expected to reach 1.5 million by 2020.
Installed capacity of waste incineration for power generation has reached
500,000 kW and by 2020 the number of garbage producing for waste to power
will reach 30 % of the total and the installed capacity could reach 2 million
kilowatts or more.
5.2.2 Biomass Energy Development
The Chinese government has provided financial subsidies and a price incentive
policy for developing biomass energy projects (Table
5.7
).
In 2010, a government department launched new price policies, requiring that
projects related to agriculture and forest biomass power generation should be
benchmarked.
The new projects should not have investors bidding for them and instead allow
for a standard benchmarking pool purchase price of 0.75 yuan per kilowatt per hour.
Should the price of already approved projects (except the bidding ones) be lower
than that stated above, it must rise to 0.75 yuan per kilowatt per hour. The national
standard should apply to original charges as well.
Raising financial support for biomass energy development should be given to
biofuel ethanol development.
The utilization of straw for energy should be supported. The biological chemical
industry deserves assistance as well. The central government has already invested
in constructing domestic household biogas.
By 2010, domestic household biogas nationwide has amounted to 40 million,
among which the small-sized were about 65,000; the large and medium-sized were
