Greening China's rural energy: new insights on the potential of smallholder biogas

Luc Christiaensen and Rasmus Heltberg

No 6102, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Clean, safe energy for rural areas is an important component of green growth and sustainable development. Biogas could be an important contributor, if its record in reality lives up to its expected potential. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of biogas use by smallholder farmers in rural China, using data collected from 2,700 households in five provinces. The authors find that user satisfaction is high, and environmental and economic benefits appear tangible. There are strong indications of reduced use of wood and crop residues for fuel. Less time is spent on collecting fuel wood and cooking, which is especially beneficial to women. Adopters also save on fertilizers, because of the use of biogas residues. Moreover, problems with suspension of biogas use, whether due to technical or human factors, remained limited. However, few tangible benefits to respiratory health were detected. Overall, these findings are grounds for optimism about the potential for of smallholder biogas to contribute to more sustainable development, in China and beyond.

Keywords: Energy Production and Transportation; Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases; Renewable Energy; Engineering; Energy and Environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-06-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-cwa, nep-ene, nep-env and nep-res
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Journal Article: Greening China's rural energy: new insights on the potential of smallholder biogas (2014)
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