Can biomass clean China’s air?

BioMass Magazine
May 2008
By Jerry W. Kram
Web exclusive posted May 19, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. CST

An article in the journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment outlines the challenges and possibilities as the world’s most populous country plots its energy future. Through the use of biomass energy, China could reduce pollution by 40 percent to 60 percent, according to the paper’s authors, Hai Ren, Zhi’an Li, Qinfeng Guo and Quan Wang.

China has the highest sulfur dioxide emissions in the world and ranks second in carbon dioxide emissions. Imports of crude oil increased from 30 million tons in 1993 to 120 million tons in 2004. By 2010, there is an expected deficit of 100 million tons of petroleum and 4000 million cubic meters of natural gas. For comparison, in 2001 the U.S. spent 7 percent of their gross domestic product on energy, while China spent 13 percent.

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