Bioenergy production and environmental impacts

Abstract

Compared with the conventional fossil fuel, bioenergy has obvious advantages due to its renewability and large quantity, and thus plays a crucial role in helping defend the energy security. However, the bioenergy development may potentially cause serious environmental alterations, which remain unclear. The study summarizes the environmental impacts of bioenergy production based on the compilation and published data. Our analysis shows that more and more attention is being paid to the environmental protection as the development of bioenergy, and among the influencing terms of bioenergy production, water issues (i.e., water quantity and quality) gain the greatest concern, whereas the least attention has been given to soil erosion. Although we recognize that the bioenergy production can indeed exert negative effects on the environment in terms of water quantity and quality, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and soil organic carbon, and soil erosion, the adverse impacts varied greatly depending on biomass types, land locations, and management practices. Identifying the reasonable cultivation locations, appropriate bioenergy crop types, and optimal management practices can be beneficial to environment and sustainable development of bioenergy. In this field, Chinese bioenergy production has lagged behind and does not match its rising energy consumption, but it has a great potential of and demand for biomass-based energy especially under its urbanization, in spite of the negative environmental impacts. Therefore, this article is expected to serve as a reference and guideline on what has been done in the bioenergy-oriented countries that might stimulate development of more effective and environmentally sound guidelines for promoting bioenergy production in China and other developing countries as well.

Restoration of degraded lands through bioenergy plantations

“…It is the primary source of production of biodiesel among leading producers of biodiesel in the world. However, there have been studies stating the overuse of water during bioenergy plantations, also affecting its quality (Wu et al ). As far as green house gas (GHG) emissions are concerned, the amount of CO 2 and N 2 O released are far less than that from fossil fuels, yet net positive GHG emissions cannot be neglected.…”

“…It also helps regulate soil organic carbon by removal of residues, tillage, and land use change. However, a proper management of residues is required to ultimately help in the increase of the soil organic carbon (Wu et al ).…”

Bioenergy production and utilization in different sectors in Sweden: A state of the art review

“…Bioenergy production also has a negative effect on water quality, biodiversity, and soil organic carbon. However, these effects depend on several factors including biomass types and land location (Wu et al 2018). Land transitions from native grassland to first generation energy crops or short rotation woody crops (SRWC) can result in significant increases in GHG emissions.…”

Environmental impact of the cultivation of energy willow in Poland

“…This would avoid problems with the transport of biomass, which generally has a low bulk density and low energy value in the unconcentrated state 27 . However, many researchers point out that, unfortunately, large-scale conversion of land to bioenergy production may have serious ecological effects 28 – 31 because it affects wildlife habitats 32 and competes for arable land with food crops 33 . The use of agricultural land for the production of raw material energy crops can have an indirect negative environmental effect.…”