The availability and economic analyses of using marginal land for bioenergy production in China

Abstract

Using marginal land for bioenergy production was considered an important strategy to promote this clean energy in China. In order to analyze the availability and economic feasibility of this strategy, this study used the latest official land use data to assess the bioenergy potentials of five species of energy plants on the marginal land, including Manihot esculenta, Jatropha curcas, Helianthus tuberous L, Pistacia chinensis, and Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. The results indicate that 289.71 million ha of marginal land are available to cultivate these five energy plants and can produce 24.45 million tons bioethanol and 8.77 million tons of biodiesel. Based on field survey data and literature reviews, we found that both farmers and bioenergy plants have less enthusiasm for bioenergy production due to poor economic returns, albeit sufficient marginal land for energy plants.