Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Biofuels in China: opportunities and challenges

  • Invited Review
  • Published:
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With rapid economic development, energy consumption in China has tripled in the past 20 yr, exceeding 2.4 billion tons of standard coal in 2006. The search for new green energy as substitutes for the nonrenewable energy resources has become an urgent task. China has a variety of climates and is rich in potential biofuel plant species. Corn and cassava are used as the main raw materials for bioethanol production in China. At the end of 2005, bioethanol productivity had increased to 1.02 million tons produced by four companies, and bioethanol-blended petrol accounted for 20% of the total petrol consumption in China. According to the Mid- and Long-term Development Plan for Renewable Energy, the consumption of biodiesel in China will reach 0.2 million tons in 2010 and 2.0 million tons in 2020. This review is intended to provide an introduction to the distribution and development of biofuel crops and biofuel industry in China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1.
Figure 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balat M.; Balat H.; Oz C. Progress in bioethanol processing. Prog. Energy Combust. Sci 34: 551–573; 2008. doi:10.1016/j.pecs.2007.11.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S. F.; He J.; Zhou P. H.; Yang S. G. The karyotypes of Miscanthus sinensis and M. floridulus. Acta Agric. Univ. Jiangxiensis 30: 123–126; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dien B. S.; Cotta M. A.; Jeffries T. W. Bacteria engineered for fuel ethanol production: current status. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol 63: 258–266; 2003. doi:10.1007/s00253-003-1444-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dong D. D.; Zhao D. Q.; Liao C. P.; Chen X. S.; Tang Z. X. Energy consumption of fuel ethanol production and review of energy-saving technologies. Chem. Ind. Eng. Prog 26: 1596–1601; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) FAO and bioenergy. FAO, Rome; 2000. http://www.fao.org/sd/Egdirect/EGre0055.htm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Bioenergy. FAO, Rome; 2005. http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/009/j4313e.htm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang P.; Zuo H. T.; Han L. B. Effect of water stress on the growth and biomass characteristics of amur silvergrass at the elongation stage. Acta Agrestia. Sin 15: 153–157; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z. J. Development of biofuel ethanol industry: present situation, problems and policy suggestions. Technol. Econ 27: 50–54; 2008a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z. L. Production technology and development of biodiesel. Chem. Eng. Des. Commun 34: 29–35; 2008b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z. C.; Huang Z. M.; Yang D. F.; Chen D. The harmful factors and countermeasure influencing development of cassava fuel-alcohol industry. Renew. Energy Resour 26: 106–110; 2008a.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li G. Y.; Li J. L.; Wang Y.; Pan Y. N.; Dou G. Y. Research progress on the clean bio-energy production from high yield Panicum virgatum. Pratacultural Sci 25: 15–21; 2008b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li M. M.; Yu S. J. Present status and the prospect of fuel ethanol production by sugarcane. Liquor Mak. Sci. Technol 156: 111–113; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin C. S.; Cheng X.; Yang X. G. Ecological adaptability of introduced switchgrass in semi-arid loess hilly-gully areas, recommended as a bio-energy plant. J. Southwest Agric. Univ 30: 125–132; 2008.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Y.; Tanaka S. Ethanol fermentation from biomass resources: current state and prospects. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol 69: 627–642; 2006. doi:10.1007/s00253-005-0229-x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H. B. Developing of cellulosic ethanol production from nonfood-based biomass in China: challenges and strategies. Chinese J. Bioprocess Eng 6: 7–11; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu H. J.; Du W.; Liu D. H. Progress of the biodiesel and 1,3-propanediol integrated production. Process Chem 19: 1185–1189; 2007.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W. F.; Zhang X. M.; Chen G. J.; Liu C. Z. Metabolic engineering for improving ethanol fermentation of xylose by yeasts and bacteria. Chin. J. Proc. Eng 6: 138–143; 2006.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C. Z.; Wang F.; Ouyang F. Ethanol fermentation in a magnetically fluidized bed reactor with immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae in magnetic particles. Bioresour. Technol 100: 878–882; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z. F.; Li X. H. Research development and industrialization analysis of transgenic maize in China. J. Maize Sci 14: 4–6; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo S. L.; Zhangsun D. T.; Chen R. K. Progress in sugarcane genetic transformation. Biotechnol. Bull 2: 9–13; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malca J.; Freire F. Renewability and life-cycle energy efficiency of bioethanol and bio-ethyl tertiary butyl ether (bioETBE): assessing the implications of allocation. Energy 31: 3362–3380; 2006. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2006.03.013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nass L. L.; Pereira P. A. A.; Ellis D. Biofuels in Brazil: an overview. Crop Sci 47: 2228–2237; 2007. doi:10.2135/cropsci2007.03.0166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC) China statistical yearbook. NBSC, Beijing; 2007. http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2007/indexch.htm.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Development and Reform Commission of People’s Republic of China (NDRCPRC) Mid- and long-term development plan for renewable energy. NDRCPRC, Beijing; 2007. http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbtz/2007tongzhi/W020070904607346044110.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Development and Reform Commission of People’s Republic of China (NDRCPRC) The eleventh five-year plan of renewable energy development. NDRCPRC, Beijing; 2008a. http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbtz/2008tongzhi/W020080318381136685896.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Development and Reform Commission of People’s Republic of China (NDRCPRC) Development of non-grain bioethanol industry in Guangxi province. NDRCPRC, Beijing; 2008b. http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/gyfz/zhdt/t20080509_210293.htm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikolov T.; Bakolova N.; Petrova S.; Benadova R.; Spasov S.; Kolev D. An effective method for bioconversion of delignified waste-cellulose fibers from the paper industry with a cellulase complex. Bioresour. Technol 71: 1–4; 2000. doi:10.1016/S0960-8524(99)00059-0.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad S.; Singh A.; Jain N.; Joshi H. C. Ethanol production from sweet sorghum syrup for utilization as automotive fuel in India. Energy Fuels 21: 2415–2420; 2007. doi:10.1021/ef060328z.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qian B. Z. The status quo and prospects of fuel ethanol industry in China. Sol. Energy 8: 7–9; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rooney W. L. Sorghum improvement-integrating traditional and new technology to produce improved genotypes. Adv. Agron 83: 37–109; 2004. doi:10.1016/S0065-2113(04)83002-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rooney W. L.; Blumenthal J.; Bean B.; Mullet J. E. Designing sorghum as a dedicated bioenergy feedstock. Biofuels Bioprod. Biorefin 1: 147–157; 2007. doi:10.1002/bbb.15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sasson A. Feeding tomorrow’s world. UNESCO, Paris, pp 500–510; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semelsberger T. A.; Borup R. L.; Greene H. L. Dimethyl ether (DME) as an alternative fuel. J. Power Sour. 156: 497–511; 2006. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.05.082.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shao H. B.; Chu L. Y. Resource evaluation of typical energy plants and possible functional zone planning in China. Biomass Bioenerg 32: 283–288; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun C.; Liang W. Status of biodiesel development and production in China. SinoGlobal Energy 13: 23–28; 2008.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun T.; Du W.; Chen X.; Liu D. H. Status and prospect of biodiesel industrialization in China. Biotechnol. Bus 2: 33–39; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan T. W.; Wang F. Current development situation of bio-oil refining and its future prospect. Mod. Chem. Ind 26: 6–9; 2006.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian C. L.; Guo B.; Liu C. Z. Present situation and prospect of energy plants. Chin. J. Biopro. Eng 3: 14–19; 2005.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Challenges and opportunities for developing countries in producing biofuels. UNCTAD publication, UNCTAD/DITC/COM/2006/15, Geneva, November 27, 2006.

  • Wang F.; Cheng X. Y.; Wu T. X.; Liu W. F.; Liu C. Z. Ethanol fermentation of sweet sorghum stalk juice and its economic feasibility. Liquor-making. Sci. Technol. 146: 41–44; 2006a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang F.; Liu C. Z. Solid state fermentation of sweet sorghum to ethanol. Liquor Making Sci. Technol 158: 36–40; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H. M.; Xu B. C.; Li F. M.; He X. L. Preliminary study on growth response of Panicum virgatum L. to different sites in the Loess Plateau. Res. Soil Water Conserv 13: 91–93; 2006b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xi Q. G.; Hong H. Description of an introduced plant Miscanthus x giganteus. Pratacultural Sci 25: 26–28; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie G. H.; Guo X. Q.; Wang X.; Ding R. E.; Hu L.; Cheng X. An overview and perspectives of energy crop resources. Resour. Sci 29: 74–80; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing Y. Production status and development prospect of biodiesel. Environ. Prot. Chem. Ind 27: 46–49; 2007.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Z. Y. Current development situation of fuel ethanol and its future prospect. Chem. Technol. Market 30: 18–23; 2007.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu G. W.; Ji W. F.; Wan Y. H.; Liu C. Z. Energy production with light-industry biomass process residues rich in cellulose: a technical review. Progr. Chem 19: 1164–1176; 2007.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu B. C.; Shan L.; Huang Z. B.; Li D. Q. Study on the photosynthetic physiological characteristics of Panicum virgatum in loess hilly-gully region. Acta. Bot. Boreal Occident. Sin 21: 625–630; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu B. C.; Shan L.; Li F. M. Aboveground biomass and water use efficiency of an introduced grass, Panicum virgatum, in the semiarid loess hilly-gully region. Acta. Ecol. Sin 25: 2206–2213; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi H. X.; Wang Z.; Zhang L. W. Simple analysis on the exploitation value of beet. China Beet Sugar 1: 27–28; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin F. S.; Teah Y. K. Status of bio-diesel industry in China. Deterg. Cosmet 31: 1–3; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • You J. F.; Fang X. F.; Chen Y. Z.; Nong D. C.; Fan B. N. Status and strategy research of the development of mechanization in sugarcane production in Guangxi. Sugar Crop China 4: 69–72; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yue G. J.; Wu G. Q.; Hao X. M. The status quo and prospects of fuel ethanol process technology in China. Prog. Chem 19: 1084–1090; 2007.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D. H.; Li C. Q. Status and industrialization prospect of high-quality rapeseed. Shanxi J. Agric. Sci 3: 79–81; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L. W. Present situation and problems of Chinese biodiesel industry. China Oils Fats 32: 12–15; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S. H.; Hu R. F. Innovating induce factors in hybrid maize breeding strategies. J. Maize Sci 8: 3–7; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L. B.; Li C. Z.; Ou R. M.; Xiao Z. H.; Li P. W.; Li D. X. Current situation and development prospect of biodiesel industry. Hunan For. Sci. Technol 35: 70–73; 2008a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y. B.; Wu C. W.; Liu J. Y.; Zhao J. Developmental status and suggestion of modern sugarcane industry. Sugar Crop China 4: 54–58; 2008b.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work is financially supported by the National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China (no. 2007CB714301) and the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (no. KSCX1-YW-11-D1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People’s Republic of China

    Feng Wang & Chun-Zhao Liu

  2. Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100864, People’s Republic of China

    Xue-Rong Xiong

  3. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Feng Wang & Chun-Zhao Liu

Authors
  1. Feng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xue-Rong Xiong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chun-Zhao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chun-Zhao Liu.

Additional information

Editor: Prakash Lakshmanan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, F., Xiong, XR. & Liu, CZ. Biofuels in China: opportunities and challenges. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Plant 45, 342–349 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-009-9209-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-009-9209-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation