Biomass energy development in Yunnan Province, China: Preliminary evaluation

A preliminary feasibility study of generating electricity from energy plantations in Central Yunnan Province identified sites with a biomass resource potential of 24,000 to 45,000 dry Mg per year within an effective transportation range. Average annual productivity rates of about 8 dry Mg per hectare are feasible. This level of feedstock production would be sufficient to fuel a 20 MW conversion plant operating with a margin of safety sufficient to cover all but catastrophic failures. In assessing the biomass resource potential, it was concluded that further research (tree crop improvement, site- species trials, and soil stabilization methods) is necessary before large scale deployment to avoid major cost and supply risks and to improve long-run results. This research will require another 5 to 7 years of effort. Nonetheless, a demonstration project to prove the concept and to gain information required for scale-up appears sufficiently promising to warrant immediate follow-up and a second stage detailed investigation. A reasonable target would be an operating facility in 7 years. The commitment of support (labor and land) and leadership at all levels to this project by the Chinese is overwhelming, exceeding all pre-site visit expectations. A limited amount of technical assistance would be helpful inmore » augmenting an already sophisticated and dedicated forestry technical base. It appears that external expertise will be required in biomass electricity conversion processes and that much of the most appropriate conversion technology is available only from the US. A relatively minor investment in further investigation at this time could open a potentially large market for U.S. technology, the deployment of which would have substantial local and global environmental benefits as well as improve economic conditions. 2 figs. , 3 tabs.« less