After addressing the basic knowledge of bioenergy and its development in the United States, the European Union, and Brazil, this book places emphasis on the introduction of China’s bioresources, its development since 2001, and the difficulties it encountered. In the concluding chapter, Shi presents his ideas about a ‘Green Civilization.’ This book analyzes bioenergy from a natural science perspective, but is also accessible to the social scientist interested in sustainable development.

Foreword: Ten Years in the Past xiii

Acknowledgments xix

Part I: General Reviews

1 On Energy 3

      1.1. The Source of Energy 4

      1.2. The Ghost of Fossils, Originating from Heaven While Refined by Earth 6

      1.3. The Rise of Coals 8

      1.4. The Global Game on Oil 12

      1.5. The Theory of "Spike Values" and "Ratio of Storage to Production" 15

      1.6. The Crisis of Exhaustion Is

      1.7. The Future for Energy 19

      References 22

2 Resource and Environmental Crisis 23

      2.1. The Classical Model of the Circular Economy 24

      2.2. The Focus on Global Warming 27

      2.3. Troublesome Sulfur Dioxide and Dust 30

      2.4. Awakened Human Society 31

      2.5. International Society in Action 33

      2.6. Commencement of the "Post-Kyoto Era" 35

      2.7. Hopes on Green Products 37

      2.8. China's Dilemma and Determination 39

      References 41

3 The Twenty-first Century: The Era of Multienergy 43

      3.1. Global Hydrogen Energy Mania 44

      3.2. New Energy: A Late Bloomer 46

      3.3. Nuclear Power: Wishing You a Good Trip 48

      3.4. Hydropower: Thriving along the Watercourse 50

      3.5. Wind: Regional Dominating Energy 51

      3.6. Solar Energy: From Heat to Electricity 53

      3.7. Biomass Energy: Unparalleled with Distinctive Features 55

      3.8. Renewable Energy Family 56

      3.9. The Era of Multi-Energy in the Twenty-First Century 59

      References 61

4 Biomass and Biomass Industry 63

      4.1. The First Workshop of Nature 64

      4.2. Biomass Industry 66

      4.3. Facts and Figures about Biomass Materials 67

      4.4. Biomass Industry: Kills Three Birds with One Stone 71

      4.5. A Bird's-Eye View on Biomass Industry 73

      4.6. Milestones from 1895 to 2010 75

      References 81

5 Brazil Miracle 83

      5.1. Start-Spangled Drama 84

      5.2. Poverty Gives Rise to Desire for Change on a Different Path 85

      5.3. A Brand-New Industrial System 87

      5.4. A Green "Saudi Arabia" in Latin America 90

      5.5. Lula da Silva: President Promoter 92

      5.6. The Blue Sky and White Clouds above St. Paul 95

      5.7. Two "Golden BRICs" 97

      References 98

6 Grand Blueprint of the United States 99

      6.1. The Deep-Seated Corn Complex of the United States 100

      6.2. A Sapient Presidential Executive Order 102

      6.3. Following the Footsteps of a Predecessor to a New High Level 105

      6.4. Is It Possible for a Billion-Ton Annual Supply? 108

      6.5. High Hopes for the Second Generation of Biofuel 111

      6.6. Duck Firstly Knows the Warmth of River Water in Spring 113

      6.7. Obama and His Secretaries 115

      6.8. American Bioenergy Industry in Financial Crisis 117

      6.9. ARPA-E Plan and an Authoritative Report 117

      6.10. The Journey toward the Centurial Energy Restructuring and Upgrading 119

      References 121

7 Second- and Third-Tier Countries in Biomass Industry 123

      7.1. A Flourishing Flower Garden 124

      7.2. European's Involvement in Energy Shortage 126

      7.3. Germany Forging Ahead 128

      7.4. Who Will Be the First One to Bid Farewell to Oil Time? 129

      7.5. Biomass Japan 131

      7.6. India with a Slow Yet Sure Step 133

      7.7. ASEAN in Action 134

      7.8. Forerunners of Africa 136

      7.9. China with a Good Startup 137

      References 140

8 A Dazzling Array of Biomass Product (I) 141

      Part I Liquid Biofuel 142

      8.1. New Chapter of Wine Culture 142

      8.2. The First Generation of Biofuels: Fuel Ethanol 143

      8.3. Cellulosic Ethanol: A Rising Star 146

      8.4. Biodiesel: Endowed with Multiple Advantages 149

      8.5. Biodiesel: Dragged Down by Raw Materials 150

      8.6. The Second Generation of Biofuel: Ready for Boom 153

      Part II Gaseous Biofuel 155

      8.7. Rural Household Biogas: The Legend of Cinderella 155

      8.8. Industrialized Biogas: A New Star 157

      8.9. Industrialized Biogas = Natural Gas 158

      8.10. Biomass Gasification and Hydrogen Production 159

      References 162

9 A Dazzling Array of Biomass Product (II) 163

      Part III Solid Biofuel 163

      9.1. Biomass Combustion and Biomass-Coal Combustion: More Daunting Than Imagination 163

      9.2. Briquette—Bio Coal 165

      9.3. 97 Percent! Bioenergy Combine 168

      9.4. Two Cases 169

      Part IV Bio-Based Products 170

      9.5. Plastic: Great and Terrible Invention 170

      9.6. Substitutes of Great are More Than Great 173

      9.7. Mission Facing China: Biodegradable Plastic Film 175

      9.8. Bio-Based Chemical Products: Perpetual Foundation 176

      References 181

10 Q&A about Environmental and Ecological Effects 183

      10.1. An Uncut Gem Does Not Sparkle 184

      10.2. Positive? or Negative? 186

      10.3. Reduce Emission? or Increase Emission? 190

      10.4. Eventful Early Spring in February 192

      10.5. Amazon, What Is Wrong with You? 193

      10.6. An Article Worth High Attention 195

      10.7. New Achievements of Biofuel in Emission Reduction 198

      10.8. Down-to-Earth Efforts, Learn from Imperfection 200

      10.9. Out of the Trap of Debate 203

      References 205

11 Q&A about Effects on Food Security 207

      11.1. A Story of Poles Apart 208

      11.2. A Globally Surging Food Crisis 210

      11.3. Authenticity of the Food Supply Shortage (Shi, 2008) 212

      11.4. Impact of Corn Ethanol on Food Price 213

      11.5. Have Corn Exports Fallen on the U.S. Side? 214

      11.6. Grain or Nongrain? Food or Nonfood? 216

      11.7. Why Has Biofuel Been Forgotten? 217

      11.8. A Justifiable Defense for Bioenergy 219

      11.9. Words and Acts of Two Presidents in the Food Crisis 220

      References 222

Part II: Focus on China

12 The Dilemma and Transformation of China's Energy 225

      12.1. The Severe Energy Prospect of China 226

      12.2. Deep-Seated "Coal-Rich Complex" in China 227

      12.3. China's Three Kinds of Strategic Positioning for Coal 230

      12.4. China's Reliance on Overseas Oil and Natural Gas 231

      12.5. Energy Transformation: Inevitable Trend of the World 235

      12.6. An Abundant Clean Energy Resource in China 238

      12.7. China's Weak Awareness in Energy Transformation 243

      12.8. Can But Quit 247

      References 250

13 Energy Agriculture: A Dose of Good Medicine for Ailments Troubling China's Agriculture, Rural Areas, and Farmers 253

      13.1. An Inherited Problem for a Long Time 254

      13.2. The Lingering Ailments Faced by China's Agriculture, Rural Areas, and Farmers 257

      13.3. The Unworkable Remedy: Migrating Farmers

      to Towns (Shi, 2006; Shi, 2007) 259

      13.4. Makeshift: Far from Enough for Severe Illness 261

      13.5. Agriculture Has Its Own Way for Development 264

      13.6. The Fundamental Way Out: Agriculture-Industry- Business Integrated Operation Mode 267

      13.7. Rural Industrialization in Japan 270

      13.8. Agricultural Development: A Modern Version of Lord Ye's Love of Dragon 271

      13.9. Energy Agriculture: A Dose of Good Medicine 274

      13.10. "I Have a Dream" 277

      References 280

14 Bio-energy: China Has to Face 283

      14.1. The Uniqueness of Biomass Energy 284

      14.2. Unparalleled Agriculture-Friendly Nature 285

      14.3. Controversy between Coal-Based and Biomass-Based Products 287

      14.4. Groundless Charge of Threat to Food Security 289

      14.5. Totally Different Fates 291

      14.6. A Threshold Cannot Be Bypassed 293

      14.7. Why Is Biomass Energy Disfavored in China? 295

      14.8. Horse Talent Scout and Swift Horse 296

      References 297

15 Biomass Resources in China (I) 299

      Section I. Agricultural and Forestry Organic Waste Resource 300

      15.1. Crop Straw 300

      15.2. Animal Manure 303

      15.3. Forestry Residue 305

      15.4. Industrial and Urban Organic Waste 307

      15.5. Summary of Organic Waste Resources 309

      Section II. Marginal Lands Resources 311

      15.6. How Many Usable but Unused Lands Are Suitable for Agriculture Cultivation? 312

      15.7. How Many Usable but Unused Lands Are Suitable for Forest Cultivation? 315

      15.8. How Many Existing Forest Lands Are Energy Woodlands? 316

      15.9. How Many Existing Arable Lands Can Be Used for Energy Crop Lands? 318

      15.10. Summary of Marginal Land Resource 319

      References 321

16 Biomass Resources in China (II) 323

      Section III Biomass Raw Material Plants in China 323

      16.1. Three Major Sugar Biomass Plants (Sugarcane, Sweet Sorghum, Jerusalem Artichoke) 324

      16.2. Two Major Starch Biomass Plants (Potato, Cassava) 327

      16.3. Oil Biomass Plants 329

      16.4. Cellulosic Biomass Plants 334

      Section IV Summary and Comments on Biomass Resources in China 338

      16.5. The Combination between Land and Plants 338

      16.6. The Current Status of Biomass Resources 340

      16.7. The Prediction on Biomass's Development Potential in 2030 340

      16.8. The Good Match between Material Resources and Energy Products 343

      16.9. The Comprehensive View on China's Biomass Resource 344

      References 345

17 "Straw Mine": Ten Folds of Shendong Coalfield in Output 347

      17.1. A Late-Arriving Surprise 348

      17.2. A Successful Realization of Concept 349

      17.3. Bioresources Are Around Us 351

      17.4. A Campaign for Comprehensive Use of Straw Is Underway 353

      17.5. Turning Concept to Productivity 356

      17.6. Strategy and Connotation for the Straw Industry 358

      17.7. Option and Technology for Straw Industry as Bioenergy Resource 359

      17.8. Power Generation by Straw Direct Combustion: We Cannot Afford to Reject It Too Early 362

      17.9. Let Pellets Serve Small Boilers 365

      17.10. Let "Green Power" Substitute for Thermal Power 366

      References 367

18 From Straw Burning in Open Fields to Green Power 369

      18.1. "Fairy Tale" of Denmark 370

      18.2. Ancient Method v. Brand New Technology 371

      18.3. Bring Farmers a Happier Life 372

      18.4. Great "Breakthrough Approaches" for Constructing New Socialistic Countryside 374

      18.5. Troubles and Innovations: Straw Collection, Storage, and Transportation 376

      18.6. Prospect: Combined Heat and Power and Integrated Development 377

      18.7. Numerous Significant Achievements 378

      18.8. Pioneers Who Are the "First Ones Daring to Eat Crabs" 380

19 Sandy Land Control and Green Power 385

      19.1. One Photo and One Government Work Report 386

      19.2. One Proposal and One Article 388

      19.3. Achieve a Win-Win Outcome on Desertification Control and Energy Base Development 390

      19.4. A Promising Land in China 392

      19.5. An Unexpected Surprise from Practice 395

      19.6. New Story about "Go to Xikou" in the Twenty-first Century 397

      19.7. What Is Li Jinglu Thinking About? 399

      19.8. The Woman behind the Successful Man 401

      19.9. Under the Guidance of Qian Xuesen's Thoughts 402

      References 403

20 Biofuel Ethanol in China: China's Fuel Ethanol Blazing Trail Hard 405

      20.1. Wake up Early But Get up Late 406

      20.2. From the Brilliant Fall into Cold Winter 408

      20.3. "The Last Dinner" 410

      20.4. A Hard Struggle for Tuber-Crop—Based Ethanol 411

      20.5. A Door Opened for Sweet Sorghum—Based Fuel Ethanol (1) 413

      20.6. A Door Opened for Sweet Sorghum—Based Fuel Ethanol (2) 416

      20.7. What Is the Potential of National Land Resources? 418

      20.8. The Big Challenge of Cellulosic Ethanol 420

      20.9. Dialectics of the 1st, 1.5, and 2 Generation of Bioethanol 422

      20.10. Pines Remain at Ease though Clouds Fly with No Stand 424

      References 426

21 Biogas: Today and Tomorrow 429

      21.1. Biogas at the Very Beginning: A Substitute for Kerosene 429

      21.2. Biogas at Present: Core Link of Chinese Ecologically Recycled Agriculture 430

      21.3. Attribute and Formation of Biogas 432

      21.5. Five Traditional Feedstocks of Biogas Production 434

      21.6. Boundless Prospects of Biogas 435

      21.7. New Resource, Dedicated Energy Crops 438

      21.8. Biogas and GHG Emission Reduction 439

22 On Ten Major Relationships Governing Biomass Industry Development in China 441

      22.1. Relationship between Bioenergy and Other Energy 443

      22.2. Relationship between Environmental Consequence and Benefit to the Rural Society 444

      22.3. Relationship between Resource Shortage and Resource Abundance 445

      22.4. Relation between the 1.5 Generation and 2nd Generation of Ethanol 446

      22.5. Relationship between Diversified and Key Solid Biofuel Resources 448

      22.6. Relationship between Household Biogas and Industrial Biogas 449

      22.7. Relationship between Energy Products and Nonenergy Products 450

      22.8. Relationship between Process Manufacturing and Raw Material Production 451

      22.9. State-Owned Enterprises and Private Sector 452

      22.10. Domestic and Abroad 453

      Concluding Remarks of the Section—Biomass: To Win the Future 454

Part III: A Glimpse into the Future

23 Ultimate Beauty of Green Civilization 459

      23.1. Magnificent Agricultural Civilization 460

      23.2. Splendid Industrial Civilization 462

      23.3. Energy Crisis and Three-Step Transformation 464

      23.4. Ever-Severe Nonenergy Crisis 465

      23.5. Transmigration of Hydrocarbon and Carbohydrate 468

      23.6. Biorefinery 471

      23.7. Bioindustry 472

      23.8. A Green Tomorrow 475

      23.9. Ultimate Green Civilization 477

      References 478

Index 481

About the Author 509

Shi Yuanchun is professor of soil science at China Agricultural University. Shi joined the Xinjiang comprehensive survey team and soil survey in Beijing during the 1950s. Shi and his group worked on the comprehensive control of drought, waterlogging, salinization and groundwater mineralization in the salt-affected soil area of the Huang-Huai –Hai Plain during the 1970s and the 1980s. They achieved great success and were awarded the Special Rank Prize on “National Science and Technology Advance," issued by National Commission of Science and Technology in 1993. Shi took the leadership of the research program titled "The Water Saving Agriculture" from 1992-1996. He is currently engaged in the strategy research of biomass energy.

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