Environmental impact and bioenergy potential: Evaluation of agricultural commodity and animal waste based biochar application on taiwanese set-aside land

Abstract

Taiwan imports more than 99% of her energy and suffers from the climate change such as rising ocean level. Therefore, energy insecurity and GHG emissions offset are two serious problems facing Taiwan. This paper examines the possibilities for domestic bioenergy production in Taiwan utilizing set-aside land and analyzes the comparative economics and choice among these alternatives under current Taiwanese agricultural system policies and also under altered energy and greenhouse gas/carbon prices. Biochar, produced from pyrolysis, is also investigated by different uses: whether it is best used as an energy source and/or a soil amendment. Agricultural residuals and animal wastes possible alternatives for pyrolysis systems and therefore, land competition for agricultural feedstocks and supply of agricultural and animal wastes will be incorporated into the study. The study employs modified Taiwanese Agricultural Sector Model (TASM) to simulate the effects of the alternatives in the face of energy and greenhouse gases prices.