A comprehensive planning study on the thermal potential of various biomass conversion technologies: Case study of 47 cities in China

Abstract

Biomass energy, as a new type of clean energy, accounts for less than 3% of the energy use structure, far lower than that of traditional fossil fuels. Therefore, the use of different biomass conversion technologies in areas with rich biomass resources can provide electric energy, heat energy, natural gas, biomass liquid fuel, and other energy to a large extent; in insufficient biomass resources, appropriate biomass conversion methods should be selected to effectively improve the energy utilization efficiency, or continue the use of traditional energy to a certain extent to meet the energy needs of different cities. Consequently, appropriate biomass conversion modes should be selected to improve energy utilization efficiency and to meet the energy demands of different cities. This study calculates the biomass potential heating value, bioenergy demanded heating value, biomass technology potential, and bioenergy supply and demand surplus relationship coefficients of 47 prefecture-level cities in three provinces of China. The calorific value, as the combustion value index to measure biomass and traditional energy, gives the spatial planning scheme for the biomass conversion technology of 47 prefecture-level cities from the perspective of energy conservation. The results of the analysis show that 11 winter cities in Heilongjiang Province are suitable for the development of biomass solid direct combustion conversion technology and biomass liquid fuel conversion technology, enabling the energy supply and demand surplus coefficients of two such biomass conversion technologies to be greater than or equal to 6.37. The exception is Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture. The results further reveal that 15 prefecture-level cities with central heating supply in Henan Province are suitable for the development of biomass solid direct combustion power generation technology and biomass liquid conversion technology, enabling the energy supply and demand surplus coefficients of two such biomass conversion technologies to be greater than or equal to 0.75. In this province, the exception is Zhengzhou. Lastly, the results also indicate that 15 prefecture-level cities without central heating supply in Anhui Province are suitable for the development of biomass liquid fuel conversion technology, enabling the energy supply and demand surplus coefficient of such technology to be greater than or equal to 22.92.