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Emergy Evaluation of Different Straw Reuse Technologies in Northeast China

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  • Xiaoxian Zhang

    (School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Fang Ma

    (School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Open burning of straw in China has degraded agricultural environments and has become a contributor to air pollution. Development of efficient straw-reuse technologies not only can yield economic benefits but also can protect the environment and can provide greater benefit to society. Thus, the overall benefits of straw-reuse technologies must be considered when making regional development planning and enterprise technology decisions. In addition, agricultural areas in China cross several climatic zones and have different weather characteristics and cultural conditions. In the present study, we assessed five types of straw-reuse technologies (straw-biogas production, -briquetting, -based power generation, -gasification, and -bioethanol production), using emergy analysis, in northeast China. Within each type, five individual cases were investigated, and the highest-performing cases were used for comparison across technologies. Emergy indices for comprehensive benefits for each category, namely, EYR, ELR, and ESI were calculated. Calculated indices suggest that straw-briquetting and -biogas production are the most beneficial technologies in terms of economy, environmental impact, and sustainability compared to straw-based power generation, -gasification, and -bioethanol production technologies. These two technologies can thus be considered the most suitable for straw reuse in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoxian Zhang & Fang Ma, 2015. "Emergy Evaluation of Different Straw Reuse Technologies in Northeast China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:9:p:11360-11377:d:54705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Sun, Yufeng & Wang, Yapeng & Yang, Bin & Zheng, Zipeng & Wang, Chun & Chen, Bo & Li, Suiliang & Ying, Jilai & Liu, Xinping & Chen, Liang & Mu, Wenlong, 2021. "Emergy evaluation of straw collection, transportation and storage system for power generation in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Qiang Wang & Thomas Dogot & Xianlei Huang & Linna Fang & Changbin Yin, 2020. "Coupling of Rural Energy Structure and Straw Utilization: Based on Cases in Hebei, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Zhang, Shuangqi & Deng, Mengsi & Shan, Ming & Zhou, Chuang & Liu, Wei & Xu, Xiaoqiu & Yang, Xudong, 2019. "Energy and environmental impact assessment of straw return and substitution of straw briquettes for heating coal in rural China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 654-664.
    5. Shazim Ali Memon & Israr Wahid & Muhammad Khizar Khan & Muhammad Ashraf Tanoli & Madina Bimaganbetova, 2018. "Environmentally Friendly Utilization of Wheat Straw Ash in Cement-Based Composites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, April.

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