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Comprehensive evaluation of effects of straw-based electricity generation: A Chinese case

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  • Liu, Hongtao
  • Polenske, Karen R.
  • Xi, Youmin
  • Guo, Ju'e

Abstract

Greater use of renewable energy is being aggressively promoted to combat climate change by the Chinese government and by other governments. Agricultural straw is the kind of renewable energy source that would become a pollution source if it is not well utilized. We select the Shiliquan straw-based electricity generation project in Shandong Province, China as a case and assess environmental externalities of straw utilization in power plants by using life-cycle analysis. Results show that straw-based electricity generation has far fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than that of coal-based electricity generation. Improvement in the energy efficiency of equipment used for straw's pretreatment would lead to a decrease of GHG emissions and energy consumption in the life-cycle of straw-based electricity generation. In case 400 million tonnes of wasted straw in China could be used as a substitute for 200 million tonnes of coal, annually the straw 291 Terrawatt hours (TWh) of electricity could be generated, resulting in an annual total CO2 emissions savings of 193 million tonnes. Straw-based electricity generation could be a high-potential alternative for electricity generation as well as an incentive for utilizing wheat straw instead of burning it in the field.

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  • Liu, Hongtao & Polenske, Karen R. & Xi, Youmin & Guo, Ju'e, 2010. "Comprehensive evaluation of effects of straw-based electricity generation: A Chinese case," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 6153-6160, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:38:y:2010:i:10:p:6153-6160
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    3. Shafie, S.M. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H., 2013. "Life cycle assessment of rice straw co-firing with coal power generation in Malaysia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 284-294.
    4. Hawkins, Jacob & Ma, Chunbo & Schilizzi, Steven & Zhang, Fan, 2015. "Promises and pitfalls in environmentally extended input–output analysis for China: A survey of the literature," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 81-88.
    5. Reeko Watanabe & Tsunemi Watanabe, 2020. "The Development of Straw-Based Biomass Power Generation in Rural Area in Northeast China—An Institutional Analysis Grounded in a Risk Management Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Yiyun Liu & Rui Zhao & Kuo-Jui Wu & Tao Huang & Anthony S. F. Chiu & Chenyi Cai, 2018. "A Hybrid of Multi-Objective Optimization and System Dynamics Simulation for Straw-to-Electricity Supply Chain Management under the Belt and Road Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Xie, Hualin & Yu, Yanni & Wang, Wei & Liu, Yanchu, 2017. "The substitutability of non-fossil energy, potential carbon emission reduction and energy shadow prices in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 63-71.
    8. Shafie, S.M., 2016. "A review on paddy residue based power generation: Energy, environment and economic perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1089-1100.
    9. Shafie, S.M. & Masjuki, H.H. & Mahlia, T.M.I., 2014. "Life cycle assessment of rice straw-based power generation in Malaysia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 401-410.
    10. Zhang, Qin & Zhou, Dequn & Zhou, Peng & Ding, Hao, 2013. "Cost Analysis of straw-based power generation in Jiangsu Province, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 785-793.
    11. Zhao, Xin-gang & Li, Ang, 2016. "A multi-objective sustainable location model for biomass power plants: Case of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1184-1193.
    12. Cartelle Barros, Juan José & Lara Coira, Manuel & de la Cruz López, María Pilar & del Caño Gochi, Alfredo & Soares, Isabel, 2020. "Probabilistic multicriteria environmental assessment of power plants: A global approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    13. Juanjuan Wu & Jian Zhang & Weiming Yi & Hongzhen Cai & Yang Li & Zhanpeng Su, 2021. "A Game-Theoretic Analysis of Incentive Effects for Agribiomass Power Generation Supply Chain in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Song, Guobao & Song, Jie & Zhang, Shushen, 2016. "Modelling the policies of optimal straw use for maximum mitigation of climate change in China from a system perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 789-810.
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