Greening China’s Rural Energy : New Insights on the Potential of Smallholder Biogas

Christiaensen, Luc ; Heltberg, Rasmus

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ADVERSE EFFECTS;    AIR;    AIR POLLUTION;    AIR QUALITY;    ANAEROBIC DIGESTION;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-6102
RP-ID  :  WPS6102

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Clean, safe energy for rural areas is animportant component of green growth and sustainabledevelopment. Biogas could be an important contributor, ifits record in reality lives up to its expected potential.This paper provides a preliminary assessment of biogas useby smallholder farmers in rural China, using data collectedfrom 2,700 households in five provinces. The authors findthat user satisfaction is high, and environmental andeconomic benefits appear tangible. There are strongindications of reduced use of wood and crop residues forfuel. Less time is spent on collecting fuel wood andcooking, which is especially beneficialto women. Adoptersalso save on fertilizers, because of the use of biogasresidues. Moreover, problems with suspension of biogas use,whether due to technical or human factors, remained limited.However, few tangible benefits to respiratory health weredetected. Overall, these findings are grounds for optimismabout the potential for of smallholder biogas to contributeto more sustainable development, in China and beyond.