Biofuels in China

Contents

Overview of biofuels in China - from feedstock to end use view info >>

Biofuels ministries, organisations and agencies in China view info >>

Key biofuels industry and research stakeholders in China view info >>

Advanced biofuels demonstrations and R&D Projects in China view info >>

Biofuels policy, regulations, market development and support in China view info >>

Reports related to biofuels in China view info >>

Biofuels events in China view info >>

Overview of biofuels in China - from feedstock to end use

This section is currently being updated.

Presentation on 'Development of biofuels in China' made at EBTP SPM6, October 2014

Biofuels experiences in China
Liping Kang, Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation (iCET), China

Liping Kang presentation EBTP SPM6

China is currently the world's third biggest national producer of biofuels (after the US and Brazil). Bioethanol is currently produced on an industrial scale in several provinces (4 initial ethanol plants having been supported by government subsidies). Ethanol is typically blended at 10% (E10). Ethanol was initially produced from grain, but new plants must now use cassava, sweet potato or sorghum. Demand for biodiesel is growing in China, but production (using oil crops) tends to be smaller scale and is more widely scattered. [Source: Biofuels in China: Development Dynamics, Policy Imperatives, and Future Growth Caleb O’Kray and Kang Wu, 2010].

A 2015 USDA Gain Report calculated that bioethanol production was 2.8b litres in China in 2014, a rise of 6% on the previous year. Production is acheduled to exceed 3b litres in 2015. Biodiesel production reached 1.13b litres in 2014, an increase of 5 % from 2013.

See also China Renewable Energy Scale-Up Programme

There is growing interest in advanced biofuels in China. Both biotechnology and new energy are listed as 'strategic emerging industries' in China’s 12th Five-Year Plan, which sets a target of renewable energy consumption of 11.4% by 2015.

In August 2012, TMO Renewables signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the authorities of Heilongjiang, China, to secure long term large volume biomass feedstock supply for future biofuel production facilities from Heilongjiang State Farm, the largest state owned farming corporation in China. In May 2011 TMO Renewables announced technology partnerships with COFCO and CNOOC New Energy Investment in China to produce ethanol from cassava. However, TMO Renewables beecame insolvent in 2014. Other deals in China in 2011 included LanzaTech (ethanol plant production), American Jianye Greentech (MSW ethanol project), Celanese, Wilson (syngas-to-ethanol), Chempolis, Henan Yinge (biorefinery joint venture), Green Biologics (Biobutanol project) [Source: Biofuels Digest].

An advanced ethanol demonstration plant has been developed by COFCO and Sinopec, following the signing of a "memorandum of understanding" with Novozymes. A study commissioned by Novozyme estimates that up to 2.9 million jobs could be created by the advanced biofuels industry in China (2011-2030). This includes jobs created in the agricultural residue supply chain. See Moving towards a next-generation ethanol economy.

There is also considered to be significant potential for algal biofuels in China [Source: Available Resources for Algal Biofuel Development in China, Shuhao Huo et al, Energies 2011, 4(9), 1321-1335]. CBEL invested in an algal biofuels venture Phyco BioSciences in early 2011.

China could produce 12 million metric tons of aviation biofuel a year by 2020 (accounting for 30% of its total jet fuel consumption) according to Civil Aviation Administration of China Deputy Director Li Jian in March 2012. Potential sources of feedstock include macro and micro alage and used cooking oil.

From a historical perspective, see also Biofuels at What Cost? Government Suport for Ethanol and Biodiesel in China (Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), November 2008). However, this document does not reflect current Chinese policy on biofuels.

Biofuels ministries, organisations and agencies in China

This section is currently being updated.

Key biofuels industry and research stakeholders in China

This section is currently being updated.

Advanced biofuels demonstrations and R&D Projects in China

Biofuels policy, regulations, market development and support in China

This section is currently being updated.

Reports related to biofuels in China

China Biofuels Annual, USDA GAIN Report, 2015

Biofuels events in China

This section is currently being updated.