Abstract:

Abstract In order to clarify ecological benefits, economic benefits and social benefits of rural household biogas digesters and the calculation methods, the authors analyzed the economic, social and ecological values of rural household biogas digesters in Xiyang township, Kongtong district, Pingliang city by using shadow price methods, cost analysis, and opportunity cost based on field survey data and information. The results showed that a biogas digester could not only generate annual economic value, social benefit and ecological benefit RMB 733.62 RMB 273.2 and RMB 130.20 per household per year, respectively; but also significantly reduced women’s opportunity cost of collecting traditional biomass energy. It was concluded that majority of farm households only used the biogas for cooking and heating water, not for multiple purposes. Therefore, it was recommended that the biogas should be used not only for cooking, but also for integrated purposes, such as use of slurry and dregs so as to make full use of biogas and its byproducts.