Biomass as residential energy in China: Current status and future perspectives

The use of biomass instead of fossil fuel and electricity generated mainly from fossil fuel in residential sector could contribute to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality as it is a renewable energy. Although biomass consumption in China is considerable, the current status and potential of biomass use in Chinese residential households, as well as the related impacts on household biomass use have not been fully understood. Here, by systematically reviewing literatures on biomass utilization in residential homes, it is found that the current use pattern of biomass in Chinese residential homes is inefficient, not only wasting energy, but also yielding amounts of air pollutants to affect climate change and human health. Biogas from biomass is being encouraged for decades by Chinese government, which also failed to achieve the expected goal since considerable household biogas plants (HBPs) were out of service. Fortunately, Biogas produced from middle to large biogas plants (MLBPs) keeps increasing with a proportion over 20% in China. How to use biomass effectively and clean is crucial for the achievement of carbon neutrality and the health of rural residents in China. In our view, molded biomass with improved stoves equipped with advanced technologies should be encouraged, not only in individual homes for cooking and space heating, but also using in central heating systems in villages. Biogas deserves another chance for development in the future, but the foci should be on the MLBPs instead of HBPs considering the social and economic factors at this stage. Last but not least, the future of biomass in residential homes will be bright only when the social consensus, government policies, technologies, subsidies, biomass industry development, and trainings to rural residents work together. This review could provide a full insight for promoting biomass as residential energies for both the policy makers and research community both in China and other countries.