Potential use and development strategy of bioenergy in Southeast China - The case of Jiangsu province

The southeast of China has experienced a comparatively rapid economic development in recent years compared to the remaining areas of China. Consumption of iderable fossil fuel causes an increasingly serious energy shortage and environmental pollution, which threatens the sustainable development of the southeast of China. Jiangsu province, one of the most fast developing, provinces in the southeast of China, is a good case. Jiangsu has a large population, large area of forested land, advanced agriculture and long coastline, which could potentially provide huge amount of feedstock for bioenergy production. In 2006, about 86.73 Mt of manure (livestock + human), 42.22 Mt of crop residues and food-processing byproducts, 1.03 Mt of fuelwood and wood manufacturing residues, 8.51 Mt of municipal waste were generated in Jiangsu Province. 138.40 Mt of the total biomass energy derived from these materials could potentially displace the use of about 21.30 Mt of coal. Meanwhile, energy plants, which will be potentially planted on the massive idle land, saline soil and farmers' yards, could provide 8.60 Mt of feedstock for biofuel production in the future. For better utilizing bioenergy in Jiangsu, several suggestions are given, including making an overall development planning, giving supports on tax, price, technology and funds, and carrying out the research of bioenergy technology.