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"Clean Tech: What technology are you, your lab or your workplace developing that will improve how we generate or use energy?"
Advancing Sustainable Enterprise in China: Biomass Energy
Schengchang, a new Chinese clean air company, recognized that China had become the largest CO2 emitter in the world by 2008. Because of its rapid development, China had become dependent on coal, which was detrimental for the environment and contributing to toxic air pollution.
To combat this problem, Shengchang, developed Biomass technology. Biomass, which significantly reduces carbon emissions, uses agricultural waste from farmers and is considered “clean fuel.” In fact, burning 10,000 pounds of biomass instead of coal reduces about 14,000 tons of CO2 per day. This both lessens air pollution and increases the income of farmers, who are paid in exchange for their waste. The company has developed six types of Biomass “briquettes” that are used for boilers and stoves.
Schenghang’s technological developments are both innovative and promising for the future of China’s environment.
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On January 21st, 2011 at 12:19 pm steve barker Said:
Reducing CO2, the primary greenhouse gas, in the most populated country, priceless.
On January 21st, 2011 at 12:28 pm Polly Ghazi Said:
Interesting and inspiring story that shows that Chinese companies are doing things on the ground to address climate change. Too often in the U.S., China comes across as the bad guy polluting the planet.
On January 25th, 2011 at 12:13 pm Yang, Zhaohui Said:
HI, xiaojiao
great to read your entrepreneur story on web and it’s very impressive.
wish Shengchang good luck
yang, zhaohui
Beijing Green Channel Tech. Co., Ltd
On January 27th, 2011 at 3:08 pm Susanna, PF Web Maven Said:
@Zhaohui – thanks for visiting the site. What is Beijing Green Channel Tech?
On February 10th, 2011 at 6:01 pm Brigitte Hines Said:
The summary above states: “Biomass, which significantly reduces carbon emissions, uses agricultural waste from farmers…” If a farmer will earn more selling the whole crop to produce energy than the food industry, will this farmer really only use the crop-waste? It seems that one cannot chemically identify whether a batch of biofuels was produced only from crop-waste or from the whole crop, and one can certainly not do such identification for bioelectricity. So I am doubtful if biomass energy from crop-waste can be sustainable in the long run.
There is also a large number of competing industries for biomass, such as construction, plastics, cosmetics, paints, solvents, lubricants, and greases, adhesives, films, herbicides, detergents, the pharmaceutical industry, and many more. As such, do we need to foster another industry competing for biomass? In terms of job-creation, all the afore mentioned industries can create more and more jobs for local communities. For energy there are several other alternatives to biomass. Claims that the rise of food prices in the recent past is related to the production of biofuels may be wrong. Nevertheless, in the long run that may come true.
So before promoting biomass energy, please, let us do some more research! Three questions still remain unanswered by current studies:
1) Can Bioenergy be sustainable in view of the competing crop uses?
2) The production of bioenergy from crop-waste and 2nd generation bioenergy is promoted, but can the provenance of bioenergy be chemically verified? ?
3) Can Bioenergy be sustainable and realistically be certified in developing countries with a high level of corruption? Quite frankly, most developed-country policy-makers and researchers cannot fathom the level of “creativity” in developing countries, and make claims of sustainability that are far from reality.