posted by System Administrator on 11/11/06

"Biomass is a significant source of energy in China today, particularly in rural areas. However, most current use of firewood and agricultural residues for cooking and heating brings with it detrimental effects of indoor air pollution and associated adverse health impacts. In addition, the time spent collecting biomass fuels creates a burden on women and children, which reduces their time available for more productive activities.

The availability of clean, low-cost fuels for heat and power in rural areas based on modern biomass technologies could significantly increase living standards and would be helpful in promoting rural industrialization and the generation of employment in rural areas.

In addition, since sustainable use of biomass leads to no net increase in CO2 emissions, there would be global climate benefits arising from the widespread use of biomass. This article discusses the size of the biomass resource base in China, the current status of modernized biomass technology development, and near- and mid-term commercial targets for implementation of modern bioenergy systems in China. The article also describes some advanced biomass conversion systems that might play a role in China’s energy system in the longer term. Finally, it describes current barriers and constraints on increasing the penetration of modernized biomass energy in China, along with some policy suggestions for addressing these.

Biomass accounted for about 13 % of primary energy consumption in China as a whole in 2000. The fraction in rural areas, where most biomass is located, is higher – some 22 % in 2000 – but this fraction has been declining since 1980 (Table 2), reflecting the growing preference in rural areas (with growing incomes) for cleaner and/or more convenient energy carriers, including coal briquettes, LPG, and electricity (Table 3). While primary energy use is shifting away from biomass in rural areas, the quality of the energy carrier is of greatest importance to the user, not the primary energy source. If clean, convenient energy carriers (e.g., electricity and liquid fuels) were produced cost-competitively from biomass, these carriers would be as attractive to users as the same carriers made from other primary sources.

Most biomass in China today is not converted into modern energy carriers. The use of wood and agricultural residues by direct combustion for cooking and heating in rural areas typically brings with it adverse health and social impacts. The combustion systems used with these fuels tend to be inefficient and create high indoor levels of air pollution. Household members, especially women and children, are exposed to pollutant concentrations that exceed international standards by an order of magnitude [Fischer, 2001]. The adverse health impacts are suggested by the fact that respiratory disease accounted for 23 % of all rural mortality in 1998 (compared to 14 % of urban mortality) [NBS, 1999]. Determining the level of mortality directly attributable to indoor air pollution is difficult, but based on the available mortality data for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pulmonary heart disease and chronic pneumonia, one researcher estimates that air pollution accounts for 13 to 22 % of all rural mortality."

Excerpted from "Biomass Energy in China and Its Potential" Energy for Sustainable Development 2001