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Overview of the development and utilization of energy and oil-producing plants at home and abroad. Currently, the consumption of biomass fuel oil worldwide is below 1 million tons, with various raw materials being used for its production. The United States uses soybeans as raw material, Europe uses rapeseed, Brazil uses castor seeds, while Japan and China use used cooking oil. To accelerate the development of the biomass industry, many **have implemented tax exemptions or subsidy policies for biomass fuel oils to provide support. To industrialize biomass fuel oil, a sufficient supply of renewable biomass raw materials is first required, especially as the development and utilization of energy-crop plants are increasingly being given priority. In fact, the value of developing and utilizing energy crops was proposed long ago, but widespread attention to their practical value came after the 1973 oil crisis. In 1978, the International Energy Agency (IEA) initiated international collaborative research on energy plants. Following the 1981 International Conference on New and Renewable Energy in Kenya (Nairobi), there was a global surge in the development and utilization of such resources. Research on modern energy oil crops began in the 1960s and progressed in the 1970s; since the 1980s, research on biomass energy, including plant-based fuel oils, has seen rapid development. Countries such as the United States, Brazil, and India have carried out work and research on selecting energy and oil-producing plants, introducing and cultivating oil-rich plants, genetic improvement, and establishing \"diesel forest plantations\". In terms of the characteristics of energy-crop plants and the development of plant-based fuel oils, countries such as the United States, Japan, Brazil, Finland, Sweden, India, the Philippines, and Australia have made significant progress in finding methods for obtaining plant-based fuel oils as well as in the technologies for using them. In the field of research on energy and oil-bearing plant resources, the United States has focused on studies of key oil-bearing plants, their oil content, and potential applications, while countries such as India and Malaysia have also conducted research on oil-producing plants. China is a country with a large population, and the per capita arable land area is less than 0.1 hm2; it is therefore impossible to produce biomass fuel oil entirely from agricultural products. However, China has vast mountainous and sandy areas suitable for planting trees, shrubs, and oil-bearing plants. As raw materials for biomass fuel oil, these oilseed plants can not only provide an abundant supply of renewable raw materials for China’s biomass fuel oil industry, but also contribute to the adjustment of the rural industrial structure. They can increase farmers’ incomes and help address the issue of surplus rural labor force. Such plants will have an important and far-reaching impact on ensuring energy security, protecting the ecological environment, promoting the development of agriculture and processing industries, and boosting the rural economy. Scholars in China have long noticed the development trends of biomass fuel oils and have begun conducting research as well as advocating for this field. Academician Min Enze advocated for the development of clean fuel, namely biomass fuel oil, in his book \"Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering\" ； The former Ministry of Machinery Industry, Sinopec Corporation, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering, the Liaoning Provincial Energy Research Institute, University of Science and Technology of China, the Chemistry Institute of the Henan Academy of Sciences, and several other organizations have also carried out research on biomass fuel oils to varying degrees. However, China has long remained at the research and development stage in the development of biomass fuel oil, failing to achieve industrialization. As for the production and utilization of energy and oil-bearing plants (fuel plants) in China, it is still in its infancy, and there is a significant gap compared to developed countries. Many research institutions have carried out effective research on oil-producing plants and aromatic oil plants. However, such research focuses on the collection of data related to these plants (such as species, oil content, and oil distribution patterns), the registration of regional resources, and the introduction of plant species. The goal of this research is to facilitate the development and utilization of edible oils and oils for traditional industrial purposes; it does not incorporate the use of plant-based fuels, nor does it involve systematic analysis and research on oil-producing plants and volatile oil plants. On this basis, the Hunan Academy of Forestry conducted systematic sorting and research on oil-containing plants, laying a solid foundation for the development and utilization of plant-based fuel oils in China. Oil-bearing plants in China Energy plant oils are oily substances stored in plant organs, which can be processed to extract vegetable fuel oils. It is formed through a series of physiological and biochemical processes within plant organisms, and exists in substances such as fats or volatile oils in a specific structure and form. It continuously accumulates in plant organs, and can be harvested in various ways by humans; it is renewable. Among them, 154 species have a seed oil content of over 40%. Energy oil plants are plant species (or varieties) that contain components of plant oils used as energy sources, and they represent a type of renewable resource. Plant fuel oil is a type of fuel substance that can replace petrochemical energy, produced through the extraction and processing of oils from oil-bearing plants. The types of plant fuel oils that have been used in production include eucalyptus oil, castor oil, hydrocarbons, monoglycerides, and alcohols. In our country, 1,553 species of energy and oil-producing plants (seed plants) have been identified, belonging to 697 genera in 151 families, accounting for 5% of the total number of seed plants in the country ； Among them, there are 1,174 species in 138 families of oil-producing plants, and 449 species in 83 families of volatile oil-producing plants ； The number of species of energy and oil crops is highly unevenly distributed among families and genera, and there are also significant differences in their regional distribution. Oil plants in China gradually decrease from south to north, from east to west, and from low altitudes to high altitudes. The concentrated distribution areas of energy and oil-bearing plants are in the **temperate to tropical regions; in mountainous areas, they often grow alongside evergreen broad-leaved forests or deciduous broad-leaved forests. They are mainly wild species (wild species account for 75.4% of the total), with only a few cultivated species. Although China has a rich variety of oil-bearing plants, with wide distribution ranges and strong adaptability, there are less than 30 species of trees and shrubs that can be used to establish large-scale raw material bases for biomass fuel oil. There are only about 10 species of biomass fuel oil plants that can be planted in areas such as barren mountains and sandy lands to create large-scale supply bases for high-quality seeds; examples include the Chinese sumac from the Anacardiaceae family, Xanthoceras sorbifolium from the Sapindaceae family, Euphorbia species such as Euphorbia helioscopia and Jatropha curcas from the Euphorbiaceae family, and Photinia serrulata from the Cornaceae family. Therefore, researchers investigated and studied the distribution, growth, and utilization of energy plants in China that can be used as biomass fuel oil, as well as carried out breed selection, establishing raw material bases and high-quality seed breeding sites based on the existing resources. On this basis, its oil properties, production processes, technologies, and equipment are systematically integrated to enable further deployment in production. This research not only fills a gap in this field but also holds great significance for the development of the biomass fuel oil industry in developing countries, as well as for promoting the utilization of biomass energy in China. China has a vast territory and diverse climates, offering abundant resources suitable as raw materials for fuel oil, which are widely distributed and hold great potential for development. Among woody energy plants, the most promising ones are oil-bearing woody plants such as Chinese honey locust; they grow in large clusters in many areas. Through research and investigation, we believe that they can be used as germplasm resources and bases for breeding improved varieties. At the same time, China has large areas of barren mountains and sandy lands suitable for afforestation. By combining tree planting on these barren areas with ecological restoration efforts, and by planting trees that can produce biomass fuel oil in a manner tailored to local conditions, it is possible to use these trees to protect the ecosystem while also harvesting their seeds to generate income. This not only provides raw materials for the production of biomass fuel oil but also ensures the sustainable operation of ecological projects. Resource distribution and characteristics of Pistacia chinensis, the main woody energy plant for biomass fuel in China 1. Resource distribution of Pistacia chinensis # R}sGT The genus Pistacia in the family Anacardiaceae comprises 9 species and 1 variety; in China, there is only one species, namely Pistacia chinensis Bunge. Chinese liquidambar belongs to the genus Liquidambar in the family Anacardiaceae; it is a woody tree species used for producing oils as well as for timber purposes. Its seeds contain over 40% oil, and this oil is non-drying in nature, making it suitable as an industrial raw material or as edible oil. Phellodendron amurense has a wide distribution; it is tolerant to drought, salinity, and poor soil conditions, and possesses strong adaptability. It is an excellent tree species for afforestation on barren mountains and marshlands, as well as an oil-bearing tree species with significant economic value. According to the results of national surveys, Chinese goldenleaf tree is widely distributed across 23 provinces and regions in North, Central, and South China. It is generally found in mountainous areas and low-lying lands below an altitude of 2,000 meters, with the highest concentrations occurring in mountainous and hilly areas below 700 meters in altitude. In most cases it is present in scattered patches, but there are also large areas of pure or mixed forests. The Chinese ash trees have a very long lifespan; among those that grow scattered, some are over 200 years old (in Anhui and Fujian). In Qingdao and Qixia cities in Shandong Province, there are ancient Chinese ash trees that are 560 and 630 years old respectively, and in Wangjiazhuang, Tun’an Township, Wen County in Gansu Province, there is an ancient Chinese ash tree that is a thousand years old. This tree is 42.5 meters tall, with a breast diameter of 5.7 meters and a crown area of 571 square meters; it is in good health. 7 41Sd8 The Phellodendron amurense is also widely distributed; for example, in Hebei Province (500,000 mu), Henan Province (300,000 mu), Anhui Province (600,000 mu), and Shaanxi Province (300,000 mu). There are also areas where this tree grows in 11 other provinces, including Shandong, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. 2. Biological characteristics and economic value of Pistacia chinensis Chinese Pistacia chinensis Bunge is a deciduous tree that can reach heights of up to 30 m, with a breast diameter of 2 m ； The crown is nearly spherical; the bark peels off in thin flakes, and it usually has even-pinnate compound leaves ； Separate sexes, panicle inflorescence, leaves appear before flowers, drupes are obovate-oblanceolate ； Diameter 5–6 mm, blooms from March to April ； Fruit matures from September to November; prefers sunlight ； Young trees are somewhat tolerant of shade, as well as drought and poor soil conditions; they have low requirements regarding the type of soil. They can grow in sandy or clayey soils that are slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline. They thrive best in fertile, moist limestone hills with good drainage ； It has deep roots, strong sprouting ability, and slow growth; its lifespan can exceed 300 years, and it possesses considerable resistance to sulfur dioxide and soot. According to investigations, the varieties of Sophora flavescens can be classified based on the morphological characteristics of their fruit seeds into types such as large round seeds, small round seeds, small flat seeds, small green seeds, and golden yellow seeds; whereas based on the color of their leaves in autumn, they can be divided into pure red, purple, golden yellow, and other colors. The Chinese galltree is not only an excellent tree species for afforestation on barren mountains and beaches, but also a great ornamental plant. Its wood is tough and dense, making it suitable for use in construction, furniture manufacturing, and carving. Its young leaves contain essential oils that can be used as a substitute for tea, while its leaves and bark have medicinal properties. The seeds contain 42.5% oil, and the nutmeats contain 56.7% oil; these oils can be used as edible oils, and the tree is also an excellent source material for biofuel. Currently, we are establishing seed collection bases in concentrated areas across 3 provinces, and some of the seeds have already been used as raw materials for the production of biomass fuel oil. 3. Properties of the biomass fuel oil produced from Sophora japonica Qh3BI?GZ’3: The biomass fuel oil manufactured by Zhenghe Bioenergy Co., Ltd. using Sophora japonica seeds has, as verified by the Petroleum Products Testing Laboratory of the Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology under Sinopec Group, main physicochemical properties that meet the standards for biomass fuel oils in the United States as well as those for light fuel oils in China. Test results from institutions such as the Automotive Emission Quality Supervision and Inspection Center of Beijing Institute of Technology, the Transportation Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport, and the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences show that after using biomass fuel oil, the power performance of engines powered by this fuel is not significantly different from that of engines using conventional fuel oil. The concentrations of CO and HC emitted by engines using biomass fuel oil decrease, while emissions of particulates and smoke are markedly reduced. Preliminary operation tests indicate that it is functioning properly (China **Commission for Economic and Trade Affairs Certificate for the Evaluation and Acceptance of New Products and Technologies (No. Guo Jing Mao Jian Zi 046)). Prospects for using woody energy plants as a source of biomass fuel oil in China To gain a comprehensive understanding of China’s biomass resources, investigations and studies on the main woody plants that can be used to produce biomass fuel oil are being carried out on a wide scale. Based on a preliminary survey of 23 provinces and municipalities, the current amount of Coptis chinensis plants in China is 1 million mu. Assuming an average yield of 500 kg of seeds per mu, these 1 million mu can produce 500 million kg of seeds (with 2,500 kg being required to produce 1 ton of biofuel oil). This would allow for the production of 200,000 tons of biofuel oil. Moreover, there is a significant need to plant trees on barren mountains and sandy lands in China; by establishing seed source bases alongside these tree-planting efforts, sufficient raw materials can be provided for the production of biofuel oil. Therefore, Alnus glutinosa, as a woody energy plant for biomass fuel oil in China, holds broad development prospects. In 2004, the Ministry of Science and Technology included “Development of biomass fuel oil technology” as a project under the **11th Five-Year Plan** for scientific and technological research. We were tasked with carrying out the project on “Research on woody plant resources for fuel oil and establishment of demonstration sites”. Building on the surveys of the main fuelwood-bearing woody plants in China, namely Ailanthus altissima and Xanthoceras sorbifolium, as well as the establishment of resource and superior variety breeding bases in areas where these plants are concentrated in 5 provinces and regions, we conducted comprehensive surveys of the existing major biomass fuelwood-bearing woody energy plants across 34 provincial (municipal) units nationwide. In conjunction with the six key tasks related to forestry ecological development, we set up seed collection and superior variety breeding bases. On this basis, we partnered with companies involved in the production of biomass fuel oil to initiate industrialization, which has shown promising development trends.