Alternative spatial allocation of suitable land for biofuel production in China

TY - JOUR

T1 - Alternative spatial allocation of suitable land for biofuel production in China

AU - Zhang, Jianjun

AU - Chen, Yang

AU - Rao, Yongheng

AU - Fu, Meichen

AU - Prishchepov, Alexander V.

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - How to select locations for biofuel production is still a critical consideration for balance of crop and biofuel productions as well as of energy consumption and environmental conservation. Biofuels are widely produced all over the world, but this practice in China is still at the initial stage. Based on China's current stage on food security and changing biofuel demands, this paper selected agro-environmental and socio-economic factors of biofuel production, and simulated and spatially allocated areas suited for biofuel production under the two scenarios of planning-oriented scenario (PoS) and biofuel-oriented scenario (BoS) by the target year 2020. It also estimated biofuel production potentials and zones across China's provinces. The results show that land suited for biofuel production is primarily located in Northwestern, Northern, Northeastern, Central and Southwestern China, with relatively good agro-environmental conditions and medium population density, but also lower competition with crop production, aiming at facilitating governmental policy-making and multi-purpose allocation of land.

AB - How to select locations for biofuel production is still a critical consideration for balance of crop and biofuel productions as well as of energy consumption and environmental conservation. Biofuels are widely produced all over the world, but this practice in China is still at the initial stage. Based on China's current stage on food security and changing biofuel demands, this paper selected agro-environmental and socio-economic factors of biofuel production, and simulated and spatially allocated areas suited for biofuel production under the two scenarios of planning-oriented scenario (PoS) and biofuel-oriented scenario (BoS) by the target year 2020. It also estimated biofuel production potentials and zones across China's provinces. The results show that land suited for biofuel production is primarily located in Northwestern, Northern, Northeastern, Central and Southwestern China, with relatively good agro-environmental conditions and medium population density, but also lower competition with crop production, aiming at facilitating governmental policy-making and multi-purpose allocation of land.

U2 - 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.09.005

DO - 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.09.005

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0301-4215

VL - 110

SP - 631

EP - 643

JO - Energy Policy

JF - Energy Policy

ER -