Strategy of bioenergy development in the largest energy consumers of Asia (China, India, Japan and South Korea)

• Bioenergy has achieved large development in China, India, Japan and South Korea.
• Drivers and obstacles for developing bioenergy vary following countries.
• Diversification of energy mix is the key common driver for the four countries.
• Securing feedstock is the main obstacle for the bioenergy development.
• Impacts of bioenergy expansion should be evaluated prior to promote policies.

The last few decades have seen an unprecedented increase in global bioenergy production. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are currently Asia's largest energy consumers with fast-growing economies and populations. However, energy supply in these countries mostly depends on imported fossil energy. Their response has involved significant efforts to find alternative energy sources, including massive investments in bioenergy development. Apart from energy security issues, this study identifies rural energy access and climate change issues as the key drivers behind bioenergy policies. The results show how different driving forces and obstacles, such as food security and feedstock issues, have led these countries to establish their own pathways to bioenergy development. Lastly, the paper develops additional bioenergy development challenges, such as the impacts of changes in land use and bioenergy competition, which constitute potential obstacles to bioenergy expansion and ultimately need to be considered by policymakers.