Implications of wheat straw logistic systems for bioenergy sustainable development in China: Costs, energy consumption, and GHG emissions

Abstract

Wheat straw is a priority choice for bioenergy production, bioenergy as the essential low carbon emissions energy can be a good choice for alternating the petroleum-based fuels. In this study, face-to-face surveys were conducted to analyze the costs, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions involved in wheat straw logistic systems in China. The result identified five logistic modes, including two short-distance transportation and three long-distance transportation modes. These five modes exhibited costs ranging from 17.34-31.95 $ t-1, energy consumption between 108.30 and 1060.45 MJ t-1, and greenhouse gas emissions ranging from 0.71-11.52 kg CO2-eq t-1. A sensitivity analysis showed that the most important parameters in the short-distance transport group were the harvest rate and the bale weight. In the long-distance transport group, the distance from the depot to the end user and the truck capacity. After an overall consideration of the costs, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, an optimal wheat straw logistic system was found in the short-distance transport group due to maximum harvest rate and bale weight by using better combines and balers. Whereas the distance from the depot to the end user should be reduced and higher capacity trucks should be used to have relatively optimal modes for the long-distance transport group. This study provides a valuable reference for bioenergy industries in feedstock collection.