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Assessment of Sweet Sorghum-Based Ethanol Potential in China within the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Framework

Author

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  • Xiaoxi Yan

    (Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Dong Jiang

    (Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
    Key Laboratory of Carrying Capacity Assessment for Resource and Environment, Ministry of Land & Resources, Beijing 100101, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jingying Fu

    (Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Mengmeng Hao

    (Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

As bio-ethanol is developing rapidly, its impacts on food security, water security and the environment begin to receive worldwide attention, especially within the Water–Energy–Food nexus framework. The aim of this study is to present an integrated method of assessing sweet sorghum-based ethanol potential in China in compliance with the Water–Energy–Food nexus principles. Life cycle assessment is coupled with the DSSAT (the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) model and geographic information technology to evaluate the spatial distribution of water consumption, net energy gain and Greenhouse Gas emission reduction potentials of developing sweet sorghum-based ethanol on marginal lands instead of cultivated land in China. Marginal lands with high water stress are excluded from the results considering their unsuitability of developing sweet sorghum-based ethanol due to possible energy–water conflicts. The results show that the water consumption, net energy gain and Greenhouse Gas emission reduction of developing sweet sorghum-based ethanol in China are evaluated as 348.95 billion m 3 , 182.62 billion MJ, and 2.47 million t carbon per year, respectively. Some regions such as Yunnan Province in south China should be given priority for sweet sorghum-based ethanol development, while Jilin Province and Heilongjiang Province need further studies and assessment.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoxi Yan & Dong Jiang & Jingying Fu & Mengmeng Hao, 2018. "Assessment of Sweet Sorghum-Based Ethanol Potential in China within the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1046-:d:139197
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xue, Jingyan & Liu, Gengyuan & Casazza, Marco & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2018. "Development of an urban FEW nexus online analyzer to support urban circular economy strategy planning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 475-495.
    3. Chen, Chen & Zhang, Xiaodong & Zhang, Huayong & Cai, Yanpeng & Wang, Shuguang, 2022. "Managing water-energy-carbon nexus in integrated regional water network planning through graph theory-based bi-level programming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    4. Junfei Chen & Xiaoya Yu & Lei Qiu & Menghua Deng & Ran Dong, 2018. "Study on Vulnerability and Coordination of Water-Energy-Food System in Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-25, October.
    5. Junfei Chen & Tonghui Ding & Huimin Wang & Xiaoya Yu, 2019. "Research on Total Factor Productivity and Influential Factors of the Regional Water–Energy–Food Nexus: A Case Study on Inner Mongolia, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, August.
    6. Junfei Chen & Ziyue Zhou & Lin Chen & Tonghui Ding, 2020. "Optimization of Regional Water-Energy-Food Systems Based on Interval Number Multi-Objective Programming: A Case Study of Ordos, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-18, October.
    7. Cássia Juliana Fernandes Torres & Camilla Hellen Peixoto de Lima & Bárbara Suzart de Almeida Goodwin & Terencio Rebello de Aguiar Junior & Andrea Sousa Fontes & Daniel Veras Ribeiro & Rodrigo Saldanha, 2019. "A Literature Review to Propose a Systematic Procedure to Develop “Nexus Thinking” Considering the Water–Energy–Food Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-32, December.

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