Biomass energy utilization in rural areas may contribute to
alleviating energy crisis and global warming: A case study in a
typical agro-village of Shandong, China
Zheng Y.H., Li Z.F., Feng S.F., Lucas M., Wu G.L., Li Y., Li
C.H. & Jing G.M*2010
Renewable and
Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 14:3132-3139.(IF=11.239)
A
biomass energy exploration experiment was conducted in
Jiangjiazhuang, a typical agro-village in Shandong, China from 2005
to 2009. The route of this study was designed as an agricultural
circulation as: crops → crop
residues → “Bread”
forage → cattle → cattle
dung → biogas
digester → biogas/digester
residues → green
fertilizers → crops. About
738.8 tons of crop residues are produced in this
village each year. In 2005, only two cattle were fed in this
village and 1.1% of the crop residues were used as forage. About
38.5% crop residues were used for livelihood energy, 24.5% were
discarded and 29.7% were directly burned in the field. Not more
than three biogas digesters were built and merely
2250 m3biogas was
produced a year relative to saving 1.6 tons
standard coal and equivalent to reducing 4.3 tons
CO2emission. A total of US$ 4491 profits were
obtained from cattle benefit, reducing fossil energies/chemical
fertilizer application and increasing crop yield. After 5 years
experiment, cattle capita had raised gradually up to 146 and some
62.3% crop residues were used as forage. The percentages used as
livelihood energy, discarded and burned in the field decreased to
16.3%, 9.2% and 9.8%, respectively. Biogas digesters increased to
123 and 92,250 m3biogas was
fermented equal to saving 65.9 tons standard coal
and reducing 177.9 tons CO2 emission. In total US$
60,710 profits were obtained in 2009. In addition, about
989.9 tons green fertilizers were produced from
biogas digesters and applied in croplands. The results suggested
that livestock and biogas projects were promising strategies to
consume the redundant agricultural residues, offer livelihood
energy and increase the villagers’ incomes. Biogas production and
utilization could effectively alleviate energy crisis and
CO2emission, which might be a great contribution
to reach the affirmatory carbon emission goal of the Chinese
government on Climate Conference in Copenhagen in 2009.
Keywords: Biogas“Bread”
forageCrop
residuesEnergycrisis Global warming