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Ethanol production in (the) People's Republic of China: Potential and technologies

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  • Li, Shi-Zhong
  • Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine

Abstract

Rising oil demand in (the) People's Republic of China has resulted in surging oil imports and mounting environmental pollution. It is projected that by 2030 the demand for fossil fuel oil will be 250 million tons. Ethanol seems to be an attractive renewable alternative to fossil fuel. This study assesses (the) PRC's ethanol supply potential by examining potential non-food crops as feedstock; emerging conversion technologies; and cost competitiveness. Results of this study show that sweet sorghum among all the non-food feedstocks has the greatest potential. It grows well on the available marginal lands and the Advanced Solid State Fermentation (ASSF) technology when commercialized will shorten the fermentation time which will lower the costs. Other emerging technologies such as improved saccharification and fermentation; and cellulosic technologies will make (the) PRC more competitive in ethanol production in the future. Based on the estimated available marginal lands for energy crop production and conversion yields of the potential feedstocks, the most likely and optimistic production levels are 19 and 50 million tons of ethanol by 2020. In order to achieve those levels, the roadmap for (the) PRC is to: select the non-food feedstock most suitable to grow on the available marginal land; provide funding to support the high priority conversion technologies identified by the scientists; provide monetary incentives to new and poor farmers to grow the feedstocks to revitalize rural economy; less market regulation and gradual reduction of subsidies to producers for industry efficiency; and educate consumers on the impact of fossil fuel on the environment to reduce consumption. Since the share of ethanol in the overall fuel demand is small, the impact of ethanol on lowering pollution and enhancing fuel security will be minimal.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Shi-Zhong & Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine, 2009. "Ethanol production in (the) People's Republic of China: Potential and technologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(Supplemen), pages 162-169, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:86:y:2009:i:supplement1:p:s162-s169
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hongshen Li & Shizhong Li, 2020. "Optimization of Continuous Solid-State Distillation Process for Cost-Effective Bioethanol Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Chu, Chen-Yeon & Sen, Biswarup & Lay, Chyi-How & Lin, Yi-Chun & Lin, Chiu-Yue, 2012. "Direct fermentation of sweet potato to produce maximal hydrogen and ethanol," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 10-18.
    3. Zhang, Caixia & Xie, Gaodi & Li, Shimei & Ge, Liqiang & He, Tingting, 2010. "The productive potentials of sweet sorghum ethanol in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(7), pages 2360-2368, July.
    4. Yang, Jun & Wang, Xiaobing & Ma, Hengyun & Bai, Junfei & Jiang, Ye & Yu, Hai, 2014. "Potential usage, vertical value chain and challenge of biomass resource: Evidence from China’s crop residues," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 717-723.
    5. Yu, Qiang & Zhuang, Xinshu & Yuan, Zhenhong & Wang, Wen & Qi, Wei & Wang, Qiong & Tan, Xuesong, 2011. "Step-change flow rate liquid hot water pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse for enhancement of total sugars recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2472-2479, July.
    6. Paixão, Susana M. & Alves, Luís & Pacheco, Rui & Silva, Carla M., 2018. "Evaluation of Jerusalem artichoke as a sustainable energy crop to bioethanol: energy and CO2eq emissions modeling for an industrial scenario," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 468-481.
    7. Yao, Mingfa & Liu, Haifeng & Feng, Xuan, 2011. "The development of low-carbon vehicles in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 5457-5464, September.
    8. Wirawan, Ferdian & Cheng, Chieh-Lun & Kao, Wei-Chen & Lee, Duu-Jong & Chang, Jo-Shu, 2012. "Cellulosic ethanol production performance with SSF and SHF processes using immobilized Zymomonas mobilis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 19-26.
    9. Taghizadeh-Alisaraei, Ahmad & Motevali, Ali & Ghobadian, Barat, 2019. "Ethanol production from date wastes: Adapted technologies, challenges, and global potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1094-1110.
    10. Atadashi, I.M. & Aroua, M.K. & Aziz, A.R. Abdul & Sulaiman, N.M.N., 2011. "Refining technologies for the purification of crude biodiesel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 4239-4251.
    11. Qiu, Huanguang & Sun, Laixiang & Huang, Jikun & Rozelle, Scott, 2012. "Liquid biofuels in China: Current status, government policies, and future opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3095-3104.
    12. Cai, Yongxia & Beach, Robert H. & Dileep, Birur, 2015. "Economic and Environmental Assessment of Expanded Bioenergy Production in China," Conference papers 332571, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    13. Ohimain, Elijah I., 2010. "Emerging bio-ethanol projects in Nigeria: Their opportunities and challenges," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7161-7168, November.
    14. Nie, Yaoyu & Cai, Wenjia & Wang, Can & Huang, Guorui & Ding, Qun & Yu, Le & Li, Haoran & Ji, Duoying, 2019. "Assessment of the potential and distribution of an energy crop at 1-km resolution from 2010 to 2100 in China – The case of sweet sorghum," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 395-407.
    15. Zhang, Yong & Yu, Yifeng & Li, Tiezhu & Zou, Bai, 2011. "Analyzing Chinese consumers' perception for biofuels implementation: The private vehicles owner's investigating in Nanjing," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 2299-2309, June.
    16. Cai, Yongxia & Beach, Robert & Dileep, Birur, 2017. "Market Potential of Alternative Fuel Technology Vehicles to Mitigate Climate Change," Conference papers 332861, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    17. Sureerat Suwanapong & Naulchan Khongsay & Lakkana Laopaiboon & Prasit Jaisil & Pattana Laopaiboon, 2013. "Dried Spent Yeast and Its Hydrolysate as Nitrogen Supplements for Single Batch and Repeated-Batch Ethanol Fermentation from Sweet Sorghum Juice," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-14, March.
    18. Zhang, Yong & Bao, Xiangtai & Ren, Gang & Cai, Xiaohua & Li, Jian, 2012. "Analysing the status, obstacles and recommendations for WCOs of restaurants as biodiesel feedstocks in China from supply chain’ perspectives," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 20-37.
    19. Ohimain, Elijah Ige, 2013. "A review of the Nigerian biofuel policy and incentives (2007)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 246-256.
    20. Chang, Shiyan & Zhao, Lili & Timilsina, Govinda R. & Zhang, Xiliang, 2012. "Biofuels development in China: Technology options and policies needed to meet the 2020 target," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 64-79.
    21. Ren, Lan Tian & Liu, Zu Xin & Wei, Tong Yang & Xie, Guang Hui, 2012. "Evaluation of energy input and output of sweet sorghum grown as a bioenergy crop on coastal saline-alkali land," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 166-173.
    22. Yang, Jun & Dai, Guanghui & Ma, Luyi & Jia, Liming & Wu, Jian & Wang, Xiaohua, 2013. "Forest-based bioenergy in China: Status, opportunities, and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 478-485.

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