IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i6p2439-d1609541.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Anaerobic Digestion of Rice Straw as Profitable Climate Solution Reduces Paddy Field Greenhousegas Emissions and Produces Climate-Smart Fertilizer Under Carbon Trading Mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanzhi Ni

    (Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China)

  • Min Zhang

    (Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China)

  • Xiaoyong Qian

    (Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China)

  • Genxiang Shen

    (Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China)

  • Onesmus Mwabonje

    (Center for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London SW7 1NA, UK
    Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Strathmore University, Ole Sangale Rd, Madaraka Estate, Nairobi P.O. Box 59857-00200, Kenya)

Abstract

Continuous incorporation of rice straw has caused significant CH 4 emissions from the paddy field production system in East China. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of the rice straw has been considered as a promising approach that could not only mitigate the land-based CH 4 emissions, but also generate low-carbon electricity and high-quality organic fertilizer. However, this approach, in many circumstances, is unable to be cost-competitive with other straw treatment processes or power sources. To understand the potential incentives that recently launched carbon trading schemes, the China Carbon Emission Trade Exchange (CCETE) and Chinese Certified Emission Reduction (CCER), could bring to the rice straw utilization value chain, we conducted a cradle-to-factory gate life cycle assessment and economic analysis of a small-scale AD system with rice straw as the main feedstock in East China. The results indicate that, depending on the choice of allocation method, the climate change impact of the bioenergy generated through the studied small-scale AD system is 0.21 to 0.28 kg CO 2 eq./kWh, and the digester fertilizer produced is 6.88 to 22.09 kg CO 2 eq./kg N. The economic analysis validates the financial sustainability of such small-scale AD projects with rice straw feedstock under carbon trading mechanisms. The climate mitigation potential could be achieved at the marginal reduction cost of 13.98 to −53.02 USD/t CO 2 eq. in different carbon price scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanzhi Ni & Min Zhang & Xiaoyong Qian & Genxiang Shen & Onesmus Mwabonje, 2025. "Anaerobic Digestion of Rice Straw as Profitable Climate Solution Reduces Paddy Field Greenhousegas Emissions and Produces Climate-Smart Fertilizer Under Carbon Trading Mechanisms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2439-:d:1609541
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2439/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2439/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ji, Ling & Liang, Sai & Qu, Shen & Zhang, Yanxia & Xu, Ming & Jia, Xiaoping & Jia, Yingtao & Niu, Dongxiao & Yuan, Jiahai & Hou, Yong & Wang, Haikun & Chiu, Anthony S.F. & Hu, Xiaojun, 2016. "Greenhouse gas emission factors of purchased electricity from interconnected grids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 751-758.
    2. O'Connor, S. & Ehimen, E. & Pillai, S.C. & Black, A. & Tormey, D. & Bartlett, J., 2021. "Biogas production from small-scale anaerobic digestion plants on European farms," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    3. Whittaker, Carly & McManus, Marcelle C. & Hammond, Geoffrey P., 2011. "Greenhouse gas reporting for biofuels: A comparison between the RED, RTFO and PAS2050 methodologies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 5950-5960, October.
    4. Hyoung-Seok Lee & Hyo-Suk Gwon & Sun-Il Lee & Hye-Ran Park & Jong-Mun Lee & Do-Gyun Park & So-Ra Lee & So-Hyeon Eom & Taek-Keun Oh, 2024. "Reducing Methane Emissions with Humic Acid–Iron Complex in Rice Cultivation: Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Rice Yield," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Bacenetti, Jacopo & Sala, Cesare & Fusi, Alessandra & Fiala, Marco, 2016. "Agricultural anaerobic digestion plants: What LCA studies pointed out and what can be done to make them more environmentally sustainable," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 669-686.
    6. Zhang, Lihui & Li, Songrui & Hu, Yitang & Nie, Qingyun, 2022. "Economic optimization of a bioenergy-based hybrid renewable energy system under carbon policies—from the life-cycle perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chongjia Luo & Xuhai Zhou, 2025. "Carbon Abatement Effect of Chinese Certified Emission Reduction Projects in Agriculture and Forestry: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-22, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Iris Kral & Gerhard Piringer & Molly K. Saylor & Javier Lizasoain & Andreas Gronauer & Alexander Bauer, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Biogas Production from Unused Grassland Biomass Pretreated by Steam Explosion Using a System Expansion Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Jiyong Li & Zeyi Hua & Lin Tian & Peiwen Chen & Hao Dong, 2024. "Optimal Capacity Allocation for Life Cycle Multiobjective Integrated Energy Systems Considering Capacity Tariffs and Eco-Indicator 99," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Jacopo Bacenetti, 2020. "Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy from Biomass," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-5, July.
    4. Gonçalves Rigueira Pinheiro Castro, Pedro Henrique & Filho, Delly Oliveira & Rosa, André Pereira & Navas Gracia, Luis Manuel & Almeida Silva, Thais Cristina, 2024. "Comparison of externalities of biogas and photovoltaic solar energy for energy planning," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Ingrao, Carlo & Bacenetti, Jacopo & Adamczyk, Janusz & Ferrante, Valentina & Messineo, Antonio & Huisingh, Donald, 2019. "Investigating energy and environmental issues of agro-biogas derived energy systems: A comprehensive review of Life Cycle Assessments," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 296-307.
    6. Manninen, Kaisa & Koskela, Sirkka & Nuppunen, Anni & Sorvari, Jaana & Nevalainen, Olli & Siitonen, Sari, 2013. "The applicability of the renewable energy directive calculation to assess the sustainability of biogas production," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 549-557.
    7. Lijó, Lucía & González-García, Sara & Bacenetti, Jacopo & Moreira, Maria Teresa, 2017. "The environmental effect of substituting energy crops for food waste as feedstock for biogas production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 1130-1143.
    8. Chen, Ting & Shen, Dongsheng & Jin, Yiying & Li, Hailong & Yu, Zhixin & Feng, Huajun & Long, Yuyang & Yin, Jun, 2017. "Comprehensive evaluation of environ-economic benefits of anaerobic digestion technology in an integrated food waste-based methane plant using a fuzzy mathematical model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 666-677.
    9. Zhang, Jinbo & Liu, Lirong & Xie, Yulei & Han, Dengcheng & Zhang, Yang & Li, Zheng & Guo, Huaicheng, 2023. "Revealing the impact of an energy–water–carbon nexus–based joint tax management policy on the environ-economic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    10. Begum, Sameena & Ahuja, Shruti & Anupoju, Gangagni Rao & Kuruti, Kranti & Juntupally, Sudharshan & Gandu, Bharath & Ahuja, D.K., 2017. "Process intensification with inline pre and post processing mechanism for valorization of poultry litter through high rate biomethanation technology: A full scale experience," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 428-436.
    11. Wang, Junfeng & He, Shutong & Qiu, Ye & Liu, Nan & Li, Yongjian & Dong, Zhanfeng, 2018. "Investigating driving forces of aggregate carbon intensity of electricity generation in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 249-257.
    12. Maria Anna Cusenza & Maurizio Cellura & Francesco Guarino & Sonia Longo, 2021. "Life Cycle Environmental Assessment of Energy Valorization of the Residual Agro-Food Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.
    13. Lemmer, Andreas & Krümpel, Johannes, 2017. "Demand-driven biogas production in anaerobic filters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 885-894.
    14. Fabio Menten & Benoît Chèze & Laure Patouillard & Frédérique Bouvart, 2013. "The use of Meta-Regression Analysis to harmonize LCA literature: an application to GHG emissions of 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels," Working Papers 2013/01, INRA, Economie Publique.
    15. Loprete, Jason & Trojanowski, Rebecca & Butcher, Thomas & Longtin, Jon & Assanis, Dimitris, 2024. "Enabling residential heating decarbonization through hydronic low-temperature thermal distribution using forced-air assistive devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    16. Aysun Yener Ögür, 2024. "The Effect of Awareness of Renewable Energy Resources on Sustainable Production in Dairy Farming: The Case of Konya Province (Turkey)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-13, September.
    17. Ma, Chun & Yu, Hangyu & Monticone, Gianluca & Ma, Shuai & Van herle, Jan & Wang, Ligang, 2024. "Techno-economic evaluation of biogas-fed SOFC systems with novel biogas purification and carbon capture technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    18. Piso, Giuseppe Cristian & Bareschino, Piero & Brachi, Paola & Tregambi, Claudio & Ruoppolo, Giovanna & Pepe, Francesco & Mancusi, Erasmo, 2023. "Numerical simulation of biogas chemical looping reforming in a dual fluidized bed reactor," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 350-358.
    19. Zengwei Li & Qifang Pan & Junyi Shi & Haoyang Ji, 2025. "Construction and Application of Enterprise Electric Carbon Model: A Study Based on Key Enterprises in Qinghai Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-13, March.
    20. Menten, Fabio & Chèze, Benoît & Patouillard, Laure & Bouvart, Frédérique, 2013. "A review of LCA greenhouse gas emissions results for advanced biofuels: The use of meta-regression analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 108-134.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2439-:d:1609541. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.