Research Progress and Future Trends in Biomass Energy Spatial Planning

Highlights

	· Develops a research framework of biomass energy spatial planning
	· Proposes the "resource–supply chain–demand–optimization" biomass energy spatial operational logic
	· Reviews the recent developments and future directions of biomass energy spatial planning research

Abstract

Biomass energy, as a renewable and abundant source of clean energy, offers strong support for mitigating the environmental crises caused by fossil fuel consumption and realizing global carbon neutrality goals. Research on biomass energy spatial planning is inherently complex and interdisciplinary. Although existing studies span a wide range of spatial scales and thematic focuses, there remains a lack of review that constructs the research framework from a holistic perspective, systematically synthesizing existing literature, identifying research hotspots, and analyzing evolving trends. To address this gap, this research employs CiteSpace to visualize the research trends of the field. Thereby, grounded in "energy landscapes" theory, this research constructs the "resource–supply chain–demand–optimization" spatial operational logic and corresponding biomass energy spatial planning research framework. It reviews existing literature on potential assessment, supply chain, energy demand, and spatial optimization of supply–demand alignment, to clarify the interconnections among research themes, methods, and subfields, enhance the practical feasibility of biomass energy assessment and spatial planning, and improve the scientific rigor and applicability of optimization strategies. Finally, the research outlines future research directions, emphasizing the need to integrate energy planning with spatial planning. Through scientifically guided planning and rational allocation of biomass resources, the added spatial value of renewable energy can be fully leveraged to support sustainable development.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Renewable Energy / Energy Landscapes / Potential Assessment / Supply Chain / Supply–Demand Alignment / Biomass Combined Heat and Power Plant

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Acknowledgements

· Project of "Spatial Planning of Biomass Energy in Cold-Region Villages and Towns in the Context of Settlement Layout Evolution," the Open Project Program of Collaborative Innovation Center for Urbanization Construction of Anhui Province (No. XTCX2024KF04) · Project of "Spatial Planning of Biomass Energy in Cold-Region Villages and Towns Based on the Theory of Energy Landscapes," the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51578175)

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