Coupling of Rural Energy Structure and Straw Utilization: Based on Cases in Hebei, China

Qiang Wang,Linna Fang,Xianlei Huang,Changbin Yin,Thomas Dogot

doi:10.3390/su12030983

Abstract

China’s coal-based energy structure is the main reason for the current high-level air pollution and carbon emissions. Now in the North China Plain, the government is vigorously promoting “coal to gas” and “coal to electricity” in the country and the vast rural areas. The development and utilization of biomass resources in agricultural areas is also an effective means of replacing coal. We propose the idea of forming a complementary rural energy structure of “biogas, briquetting, electricity (BBE)” model based on centralized biogas production (CBP) and straw briquetting fuel (SBF) to improve the rural energy structure. This article uses emergy analysis methods to analyze actual cases. It needs to have strengths and avoid weaknesses in mode selection. The process of the analysis reveals the disadvantages and improvement measures. Under the current capacity load, the emergy input and output, eco-economic indicators, sustainable development indicators, environmental load indicators, and economic value have their own advantages and disadvantages. Assuming 100% capacity load, the indicators have great optimization space. Reducing labor input during the planting phase can effectively reduce emergy input. The government needs to provide corresponding support based on the strengths and weaknesses of the project to keep the project sustainability. The development of complementary integration based on local conditions is an important measure to optimize the energy consumption structure in rural areas and improve the ecological environment.

Highlights

The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) was held between 2 and 15 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland
This paper proposes the following model for improving rural energy structure: In rural areas, it is possible to try and build a new energy source structure based on biomass energy (e.g., centralized biogas production (CBP), straw briquetting fuel (SBF)) and electric energy, which form a complementary rural energy structure of a “biogas, briquetting, electricity (BBE)” model to replace the loose coal and original utilization of straw
The process of the analysis reveals the disadvantages and improvement measures of the CBP and SBF projects

Summary

Introduction

The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) was held between 2 and 15 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland. As part of its Paris Agreement commitment, China pledged to peak carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions around 2030, striving to peak earlier, and to increase the non-fossil share of primary energy to 20% by 2030 [1]. China’s Energy Supply and Consumption Revolution Strategy (2016–2030) sets goals of capping China’s absolute primary energy consumption at or below 5000 million and 6000 million tons of coal equivalent (Mtce) by 2020 and 2030, respectively [2,3]. China’s coal-based energy structure is the main cause of the current high-level carbon emissions and air pollution [5]. The current utilization mode of biomass energy is lagging and the development and utilization of high-tech applications are still low, resulting in the discharge of a large amount of CO2 and soot, which seriously affects the ecological environment and living environment, and has a great potential for improvement [7]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion