Comparative evaluation of environmental and economic impacts of residual biomass utilization in China

Abstract

Biomass, as a renewable carbon source, offers decarbonization possibilities for a wide range of energy and material-related end uses, including power and heat, fuels, fertilizers, and biomaterials. As the global concerns about climate change and carbon neutrality goals increase, the efficient allocation of limited biomass resources across these competing sectors has become a critical issue. This study integrates life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to compare the benefits of intersectoral biomass resource utilization, and linking the evaluation results to the stakeholders under different system boundaries. Through evaluating 31 representative biomass utilization pathways in China, this framework quantifies the environmental and economic impacts under multiple policy scenarios. The results suggest that prioritizing biomass for green fuel production not only offers higher profitability but also delivers the greatest decarbonization potential across the entire biomass utilization system. This study finds that optimization of inter-sectoral biomass resource allocation could achieve low-cost decarbonization. This study offers valuable technical insights for optimizing biomass resource allocation and provides actionable recommendations for carbon neutrality strategies.