Estimating the potential of biohydrogen production and carbon neutralization contribution from crop straw

In order to achieve the carbon neutrality goal set by Chinese government, the potential contribution of hydrogen production from crop residues by microbial fermentation technology and Greenhouse gas (GHGs) reduction have been studied. Firstly, the annual yield of crop straw was estimated according to crop yield and grass grain ratio, and then the grey model GM (1, 1) was applied to predict the crop residues resources available for hydrogen production in various provinces in China in 2021. The results showed that the maximum resource of straw being available for hydrogen production is about 4.54 x 108 t, corresponding to 1.31 x 1011 m3 of hydrogen, the energy carried by the obtained hydrogen was 73 % and 1.15 times than the energy of national civil natural gas consumption and energy of transportation gasoline consumption, respectively. The potential reduction of greenhouse gas emission was 2.42 x 108 t/a CO2-eq, representing 2.4 % of GHGs emissions.

Automated summary

To achieve carbon neutrality, the potential contribution of hydrogen production from crop residues by microbial fermentation technology and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction in China was studied. The annual yield of crop straw was estimated, and a grey model GM (1, 1) was used to predict the resources available for hydrogen production. The maximum straw resource available for hydrogen production was found to be about 4.54 x 10^8 tons, corresponding to 1.31 x 10^11 m3 of hydrogen. The energy carried by the obtained hydrogen was 73% and 1.15 times the energy of national civil natural gas consumption and transportation gasoline consumption, respectively. The potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was 2.42 x 10^8 t/a CO2-eq, accounting for 2.4% of GHG emissions.