Environmental impact analysis of biomass straw substituting coal in the rural building heating sector

Abstract

Biomass energy is a clean and environmentally friendly renewable energy source, and the transition to biomass is driven by both environmental goals (carbon neutrality) and the feasibility based on biomass availability. This paper develops a new model to assess the feasibility of using biomass as a coal substitute for heating rural buildings. To assess the feasibility of this model, a case study was conducted in China's Heilongjiang province. We collected data on crop straw availability from 2005 to 2020 and analyzed coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in rural building heating from 2011 to 2020. Considering China's carbon neutral targets, we further assessed changes in coal consumption, biomass straw demand, carbon dioxide emissions, and pollutant emissions resulting from the adoption of biomass for heating in rural areas between 2021 and 2060. The findings reveal that coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions displayed fluctuating patterns in the past decade, averaging around 550,000 tons and 1,050,000 tons, respectively. The use of biomass straw resulted in a gradual decline in carbon dioxide emissions, reaching near-zero levels, and also effectively reduced SO₂, NO_x and PM_2.5 by 91.6 %, 49.3 % and 8.3 % respectively. The demand for biomass as an alternative to coal is up to 0.84 % of the currently available biomass, and there is enough biomass available. These findings emphasize the feasibility of biomass straw to achieve carbon neutrality in Heilongjiang Province and can guide policy makers, researchers and stakeholders in developing and implementing effective strategies for sustainable energy systems.