Title: Potential of energy production by Chinese farmers to fuel rural development

Authors: Cecile Van Hezik, Wen Yu

Addresses: Centre for Energy Policy and Economics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, 8032, Zürich, Switzerland. ' Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, P.R. China

Abstract: The role of farmers as future energy producers of China is explored within a fast changing rural economy. Data on rural households energy demand, socio-economic and environmental data are used from a household survey with a geographical spread over China. A concept of a more flexible energy production system, i.e., Biomass-Based Distributed Polygeneration (BB-DPG) is introduced. Through a more flexible use of biomass and technologies, which are better adjusted to the local conditions, different types of energy can be produced. Energy production by farmers can significantly contribute to improving the rural livelihood, by improving energy security, creating local off-farm employment, improving agricultural practices, and relieve environmental pressure.

Keywords: biomass; distributed polygeneration; DPG; rural development; China; farming; rural households; rural energy; bioenergy; rural economy; developing countries; energy production.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2007.016251

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2007 Vol.28 No.4, pp.389 - 406

Published online: 12 Dec 2007 *

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