Biofuel for Energy Security: An Examination on Pyrolysis Systems with Emissions from Fertilizer and Land-Use Change

Chih-Chun Kung (), Hualin Xie, Tao Wu and Shih-Chih Chen
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Hualin Xie: Institute of Poyang Lake Eco-Economics at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China
Tao Wu: School of Economics at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China
Shih-Chih Chen: Department of Accounting Information at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: One of the most important concerns facing Taiwan is lack of energy security. The study examines to what extent the Taiwan energy security can be enhanced through bioenergy production and how bioenergy affects net greenhouse gases emissions. Ethanol, conventional bioelectricity and pyrolysis based electricity are analyzed and emissions from fertilizer use and land use change are also incorporated. The study employs the Modified Taiwan Agricultural Sector Model (MTASM) for economic and environmental analysis. The results indicate that Taiwan indeed increases its energy security from bioenergy production but net greenhouse gases emissions are also increased. Emissions from fertilizer use and land use change have significant impacts on emissions reduction and pyrolysis does not always provide net greenhouse emissions offset. Some policy implications including goal determination, land availability and emissions trading systems are also provided for potential policy decision making.

Keywords: pyrolysis system; fertilizer use; land use change; bioenergy production; greenhouse gases emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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