Top 7 China Biomass Energy Companies 2025
China biomass energy installed capacity exceeds 40 GW, including 15 GW of biomass power, 10 GW of waste-to-energy, and 15 GW of biogas. The country generates 1000+ million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, providing abundant biomass feedstock. In 2025, China biomass sector focuses on co-firing with coal, biogas digesters for rural areas, and developing advanced biofuels including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
TL;DR: China biomass capacity exceeds 40 GW from agricultural waste, MSW and biogas. Co-firing biomass with coal and rural biogas digesters are key growth areas. Advanced biofuels including SAF targeted for 2028.
Top Companies
Dragon Power (龙源环保)
5 GW biomass capacityDragon Power, a CGN subsidiary, is China largest biomass power generator with 5 GW of installed capacity across 200+ plants. The company pioneered biomass co-firing at coal power plants, achieving 10-30% biomass blending ratios across its coal fleet.
Shenergy (申能环保)
Waste-to-energy leaderShenergy Environment operates waste-to-energy plants in Shanghai and eastern China, processing 20kt+ of municipal solid waste daily. The company WTE plants generate 800 MW of electricity while reducing landfill requirements for major cities.
Jiangsu Guoxin (国信环保)
Agricultural waste biomassJiangsu Guoxin operates 2 GW of biomass power plants fueled by rice straw, wheat straw and other agricultural residues in Jiangsu and neighboring provinces. The company pioneered direct-fired biomass technology achieving 30%+ net efficiency.
Chengdu Bioenergy
Biogas specialistChengdu Bioenergy develops large-scale biogas projects using food waste, animal manure and agricultural residues. The company operates 50+ biogas plants with total capacity of 500 MW thermal equivalent across Sichuan and surrounding provinces.
Sinopec Biofuel
Bio-ethanol producerSinopec produces fuel ethanol from corn and cassava at multiple plants in northeastern and southwestern China. The company is developing cellulosic ethanol technology using agricultural straw as feedstock, targeting commercial-scale production by 2027.
CNOOC New Energy
SAF developmentCNOOC New Energy invests in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste oils and agricultural residues. The company has built a pilot SAF plant in Hainan with 50kt annual capacity, supplying Sinopec and Chinese airlines for initial SAF blending at 5-10% ratios.
BGI (博瑞环境)
Biomass gasificationBGI develops biomass gasification technology converting agricultural waste into syngas for power generation and chemical production. The company circulating fluidized bed gasifiers achieve 85%+ carbon conversion efficiency at scales of 5-50 MW thermal.
Comparison Table
| Company | Technology | Capacity | Feedstock | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Power | Co-firing+biomass | 5 GW | Straw, wood | Commercial |
| Shenergy | Waste-to-energy | 800 MW | MSW | Commercial |
| Guoxin | Direct-fired | 2 GW | Agri waste | Commercial |
| Chengdu Bio | Biogas | 500 MW equiv | Food, manure | Commercial |
| Sinopec | Ethanol | 1Mt+/yr | Corn, cassava | Commercial |
| CNOOC NE | SAF | 50kt/yr pilot | Waste oil | Pilot |
| BGI | Gasification | 5-50MW each | Agri waste | Demonstration |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much agricultural waste does China produce?
China produces approximately 1,000 million tonnes of agricultural crop residues annually, including 400Mt rice straw, 200Mt wheat straw, 300Mt corn stalks, and 100Mt other residues. Currently only 30% is utilized for energy, feed, or industrial materials, while 40% is burned openly (despite bans) and 30% is incorporated into soil. Utilizing 50%+ of agricultural waste for energy could generate 200+ TWh of electricity annually.
What is biomass co-firing?
Biomass co-firing means burning biomass alongside coal in existing coal power plant boilers, typically at 5-30% biomass blending ratios. This approach requires minimal capital investment since it uses existing coal plant infrastructure, while reducing CO2 emissions proportionally. China has promoted co-firing as a rapid decarbonization pathway, with Dragon Power achieving 30% biomass blending at several plants. Challenges include biomass fuel logistics, handling, and ensuring consistent fuel quality.
What is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)?
SAF is jet fuel produced from sustainable feedstocks including waste cooking oil, agricultural residues, and algae. SAF can reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by 50-80% compared to conventional jet fuel. China has set targets for 5% SAF blending in aviation fuel by 2030. Current Chinese SAF production is limited to pilot scale (50kt/year), but multiple projects totaling 500kt+/year capacity are planned for commissioning by 2027-2028.
What biomass feedstocks does China utilize most?
Agricultural residues (straw, stalks) dominate China's biomass energy supply, with over 900 million tonnes available annually. Forestry waste, food processing byproducts, and municipal solid waste are secondary sources. The government encourages crop residue collection systems to prevent open-field burning while providing fuel for biomass power plants.
What policies support China's biomass energy development?
China's renewable energy law mandates grid priority for biomass power with guaranteed tariffs of 0.75 RMB/kWh. The NEA's 14th Five-Year Plan targets 30 GW biomass capacity by 2025, with subsidies for biogas upgrading, biomass heating, and agricultural residue collection infrastructure.