Stagnating Jatropha Biofuel Development in Southwest China: An Institutional Approach

Autor: Arthur P.J. Mol, Jia Li, Thomas Herzfeld, Bettina Bluemling
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Engineering
Natural resource economics
Geography
Planning and Development
WASS
02 engineering and technology
Guangxi
010501 environmental sciences
01 natural sciences
discourses
Renewable energy sources
perspectives
0202 electrical engineering
electronic engineering
information engineering
GE1-350
uncertainty
2. Zero hunger
Biodiesel
Milieubeleid
biology
Environmental effects of industries and plants
forestry
jel:Q0
jel:Q2
jel:Q3
sustainability
Hazard
smallholders
jel:Q5
Renewable energy
Environmental Policy
Biofuel
jel:O13
oil companies
jel:Q56
plantations
management
020209 energy
future orientation
Jatropha
TJ807-830
biodiesel
Management
Monitoring
Policy and Law
TD194-195
Bioenergy
jel:Q
ddc:330
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Renewable Energy
Sustainability and the Environment
business.industry
Fossil fuel
investment
prospects
biology.organism_classification
Biotechnology
Environmental sciences
Sichuan
Sustainability
business
Zdroj: Sustainability, Vol 6, Iss 6, Pp 3192-3212 (2014)
Sustainability, 6(6), 3192-3212
Sustainability; Volume 6; Issue 6; Pages: 3192-3212
Sustainability 6 (2014) 6
ISSN: 2071-1050
Popis: Biodiesel from jatropha has been considered as a promising alternative to fossil fuels for some time. Consequently, China started promoting jatropha as one of the options to meet its ever-increasing energy consumption, and the Chinese biodiesel industry also gained interest. However, the excitement of the biofuel industry in jatropha faded after it did not bring about the expected results. This article investigates the stagnation in jatropha development and production for biodiesel in China, using two detailed case studies of jatropha biofuel production in southeast China. It is found that the underdeveloped biodiesel policy and regulation, such as a rather late formulation of standards for biodiesel (especially the B5) and the absence of mandatory targets, is an important reason for hampering jatropha development. Besides that, lack of financial support undermined sustained jatropha planting at the farm level and lack of sustained commitment from state-owned enterprises or private companies over a long time span further contributed to jatropha project’s failure. Better implementation of the rule of law, mandatory blending requirements, hazard insurance, as well as continuous financial support, might improve the continuation of jatropha plantation schemes.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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