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

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  • Christiaensen, Luc
  • Heltberg, Rasmus

Abstract

This study assesses a new generation of smallholder biogas, an applied sustainable energy technology currently being rolled out on a massive scale in rural China. In the past, the implementation of biogas programs has been largely disappointing, in China (and elsewhere). User satisfaction with the new program is high, based on purposively collected data from 2,700 households in five provinces, and the available evidence suggests tangible environmental and economic benefits. There are strong indications of fuel switching away from fuelwood and crop residues. Less time is spent on fuelwood collection and cooking, which benefits women especially. Adopters save on fertilizers by using biogas residues. Finally, problems with suspension and interrupted supply appear lower than in earlier studies. Overall, these initial findings are grounds for optimism about the potential for scaled-up smallholder biogas to deliver safe and clean rural energy, in China and beyond, provided critical conditions are met.

Suggested Citation

  • Christiaensen, Luc & Heltberg, Rasmus, 2014. "Greening China's rural energy: new insights on the potential of smallholder biogas," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(1), pages 8-29, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:endeec:v:19:y:2014:i:01:p:8-29_00
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    1. Xu, Shang & Klaiber, Allen, "undated". "Provision of Natural Gas Infrastructure and Shifts in Fuel Patterns," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274447, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Gill-Wiehl, A. & Ray, I. & Kammen, D., 2021. "Is clean cooking affordable? A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Krishnapriya, P.P. & Chandrasekaran, Maya & Jeuland, Marc & Pattanayak, Subhrendu K., 2021. "Do improved cookstoves save time and improve gender outcomes? Evidence from six developing countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    4. Zuo, Alec & Hou, Lingling & Huang, Zeying, 2020. "How does farmers' current usage of crop straws influence the willingness-to-accept price to sell?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    5. Nalunga, Asha & Mugisha, Johnny & Walekhwa, Peter & Smith, Jo, 2019. "The dynamics of Household labor allocation to biogas production, farm and non-farm activities in central Uganda," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 461-467.
    6. Li, Jianglong & Chen, Chang & Liu, Hongxun, 2019. "Transition from non-commercial to commercial energy in rural China: Insights from the accessibility and affordability," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 392-403.
    7. He, Ke & Zhang, Junbiao & Zeng, Yangmei, 2020. "Householdsā€™ willingness to pay for energy utilization of crop straw in rural Chinaļ¼šBased on an improved UTAUT model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    8. Syed M Amir & Yonggong Liu & Ashfaq A Shah & Umer Khayyam & Zafar Mahmood, 2020. "Empirical study on influencing factors of biogas technology adoption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan," Energy & Environment, , vol. 31(2), pages 308-329, March.
    9. Xu, Shang & Allen Klaiber, H., 2019. "The impact of new natural gas pipelines on emissions and fuel consumption in China," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 49-62.
    10. E. Somanathan & Randall Bluffstone, 2015. "Biogas: Clean Energy Access with Low-Cost Mitigation of Climate Change," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 62(2), pages 265-277, October.
    11. Robyn Meeks & Katharine R. E. Sims & Hope Thompson, 2019. "Waste Not: Can Household Biogas Deliver Sustainable Development?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 72(3), pages 763-794, March.
    12. Chen, Qiu & Liu, Tianbiao, 2017. "Biogas system in rural China: Upgrading from decentralized to centralized?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 933-944.
    13. Jun Hou & Weifeng Zhang & Pei Wang & Zhengxia Dou & Liwei Gao & David Styles, 2017. "Greenhouse Gas Mitigation of Rural Household Biogas Systems in China: A Life Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, February.
    14. Mengistu, M.G. & Simane, B. & Eshete, G. & Workneh, T.S., 2015. "A review on biogas technology and its contributions to sustainable rural livelihood in Ethiopia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 306-316.
    15. Ahmar, Muhammad & Ali, Fahad & He, Chengying & Jiang, Yuexiang, 2025. "Understanding the role of socio-economic, demographic, environmental, infrastructural, and institutional attributes in the uptake of biogas technology in Pakistan: Proposing and implementing a novel s," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    16. Novice Patrick Bakehe, 2021. "What drives biogas adoption in rural Lesotho?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(2), pages 357-367, June.
    17. Kelebe, Haftu Etsay & Ayimut, Kiros Meles & Berhe, Gebresilasse Hailu & Hintsa, Kidane, 2017. "Determinants for adoption decision of small scale biogas technology by rural households in Tigray, Ethiopia," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 272-278.

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