Analyzing and Comparing Biomass Feedstock Supply Systems in China: Corn Stover and Sweet Sorghum Case Studies

Abstract

This paper analyzes the rural Chinese biomass supply system and models supply chain operations according to U.S. concepts of logistical unit operations: harvest and collection, storage, transportation, preprocessing, and handling and queuing. In this paper, we quantify the logistics cost of corn stover and sweet sorghum in China under different scenarios. We analyze three scenarios of corn stover logistics from northeast China and three scenarios of sweet sorghum stalks logistics from Inner Mongolia in China. The case study estimates that the logistics cost of corn stover and sweet sorghum stalk to be $52.95/dry metric ton and $52.64/dry metric ton, respectively, for the current labor-based biomass logistics system. However, if the feedstock logistics operation is mechanized, the cost of corn stover and sweet sorghum stalk decreases to $36.01/dry metric ton and $35.76/dry metric ton, respectively. The study also includes a sensitivity analysis to identify the cost OPEN ACCESSEnergies 2015, 8 5578 factors that cause logistics cost variation. Results of the sensitivity analysis show that labor price has the most influence on the logistics cost of corn stover and sweet sorghum stalk, with a variation of $6 to $12/dry metric ton.

Technical Feasibility and Comprehensive Sustainability Assessment of Sweet Sorghum for Bioethanol Production in China

“…However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the cost of bioethanol conversion, which could be considered a crucial factor for the development of the bioethanol industry [66]. Furthermore, logistical challenges that have led to poor financial return have also been reported as main barriers to using sweet sorghum as bioethanol feedstock [1]. Thus, two sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify the effects of bioethanol conversion and biomass logistics costs on the prospective economic profitability in the three selected regions analyzed in this study.…”

“…Therefore, assessment of profitability is crucial to the development of bioenergy crops for production of liquid biofuels [1]. Farmers' incomes correlate directly to planting costs, biomass yield and market price of sweet sorghum [35].…”

“…For a reliable calculation of prospective economic profitability, the price of fuel ethanol was set to 0.97 USD/kg based on the average value from 2011 to 2015 [30]. According to our previous study, the price of sweet sorghum logistics including storage and transportation is 52.64 USD/t for the current biomass feedstock supply in North China [1]. The cost of grain ethanol production (632.23 USD/t) included the purchase cost of grain feedstock from farmers and the cost of the ethanol conversion process [62].…”

“…Consequently, both a comprehensive sustainability assessment of cultivation practices and a thorough economic feasibility evaluation of bioethanol production for sweet sorghum in the various farming zones across China are needed. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to (1) identify the technical feasibility of sweet sorghum production in major farming zones across China; (2) analyze the sustainability of sweet sorghum production based on a literature review and investigate promising topics comprehensively; (3) reveal the prospective economic profitability of sweet sorghum bioethanol production as biomass feedstock using the current bioethanol conversion technology in China.…”

“…The increasing world population and the rapid development of a global economy created a huge strain on energy resources and the environment [1]. Recently, China has become the country that consumes the most energy worldwide, surpassing even the USA [2].…”