The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation

More than two thirds of the existing electricity generating capacity in China is coal-fired, making its power sector the most carbon-intensive in the world. Biomass-fueled power generation offers a sustainable window of opportunity to meet multi-objective challenges in the context of transition in t...

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Main Authors: Liu, L., Li, Jun, Xie, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53355
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author Liu, L.
Li, Jun
Xie, J.
author_facet Liu, L.
Li, Jun
Xie, J.
author_sort Liu, L.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description More than two thirds of the existing electricity generating capacity in China is coal-fired, making its power sector the most carbon-intensive in the world. Biomass-fueled power generation offers a sustainable window of opportunity to meet multi-objective challenges in the context of transition in the economic growth model. Bioenergy can also bring about macroeconomic and environmental co-benefits such as energy security, public health, an improved labor market and social welfare through the creation of green jobs, the drive toward industrial innovation, poverty alleviation and mitigation of greenhouse gases and air pollution. This paper attempts to shed light on the status quo, achievements, opportunities and underlying challenges of scaling up biomass power generation in China by drawing lessons from other more advanced renewables. The analysis focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of large-scale penetration of biomass in China's electricity market from both technical and economic perspectives. More specifically, it emphasizes that cost-effectiveness needs to be mainstreamed in the policy design and long-term planning for biomass power industry development. The accelerated penetration of bioenergy will contribute to optimizing the portfolio of a decarbonized power sector in light of a sustainable new normal Chinese economy through the next few decades.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-533552017-10-17T07:49:58Z The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation Liu, L. Li, Jun Xie, J. More than two thirds of the existing electricity generating capacity in China is coal-fired, making its power sector the most carbon-intensive in the world. Biomass-fueled power generation offers a sustainable window of opportunity to meet multi-objective challenges in the context of transition in the economic growth model. Bioenergy can also bring about macroeconomic and environmental co-benefits such as energy security, public health, an improved labor market and social welfare through the creation of green jobs, the drive toward industrial innovation, poverty alleviation and mitigation of greenhouse gases and air pollution. This paper attempts to shed light on the status quo, achievements, opportunities and underlying challenges of scaling up biomass power generation in China by drawing lessons from other more advanced renewables. The analysis focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of large-scale penetration of biomass in China's electricity market from both technical and economic perspectives. More specifically, it emphasizes that cost-effectiveness needs to be mainstreamed in the policy design and long-term planning for biomass power industry development. The accelerated penetration of bioenergy will contribute to optimizing the portfolio of a decarbonized power sector in light of a sustainable new normal Chinese economy through the next few decades. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53355 10.1080/17583004.2017.1309203 restricted
spellingShingle Liu, L.
Li, Jun
Xie, J.
The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
title The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
title_full The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
title_fullStr The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
title_full_unstemmed The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
title_short The role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing China's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
title_sort role of biomass in deeply decarbonizing china's power generation: implications for policy design and implementation
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53355