The number of rural household biogas systems in Hefei has exceeded 90,000

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Biogas, as a clean energy source, is being widely used in the rural areas of Hefei. On the 16th, reporters learned from the Municipal Agriculture Commission that in 2014, 2,100 new household biogas systems were installed across the city, along with 120 biogas projects for farms. To date, the number of rural household biogas systems across the city has exceeded 90,000, reaching 91,700, while there are 913 biogas projects in livestock farms. A responsible official from the Ecological Energy Department of Hefei’s Agriculture Commission explained that in recent years, Hefei has made great efforts to promote the development of household biogas systems and biogas projects for farms, by taking advantage of central government funding for rural biogas projects as well as municipal subsidies for such projects. In 2014, 2,100 new household biogas systems were installed across the city, along with 120 biogas projects in farms. A total investment of 15.999 million yuan was made in central government-funded rural biogas projects and municipal subsidy-based biogas projects for farms; of this amount, 5.495 million yuan came from the central government, 1.56 million yuan from the provincial government, 2.295 million yuan from the municipal government, 836,000 yuan from county-level funding, and 5.813 million yuan was raised by farmers and enterprises themselves. By the end of 2014, the city had 91,700 rural households using biogas; there were 913 biogas installations in livestock farms, with a total fermentation capacity of 77,300 cubic meters. In total, these various biogas tanks produced 34.71 million cubic meters of biogas per year. Currently, rural biogas is widely used, which is closely related to Hefei’s vigorous efforts to develop a service system for rural biogas installations after their construction. In accordance with the principles of \"support, agricultural development, market-based operation, and standardized management,\" Hefei is working to establish a diversified biogas service system that is supported by county (city, district) service stations (biogas associations), based on rural service outlets, and staffed by biogas service professionals, in order to **increase the rate of proper use of biogas in rural areas**. By the end of 2014, 288 rural biogas service centers had been established across the city, with 17 new ones added; nearly 300 technical service personnel were assigned to these centers, covering 74,300 households that used biogas systems. While the development of biogas projects progresses in an orderly manner, Hefei is also actively promoting the development of ecological circular agriculture centered around biogas, in order to harness the various benefits of rural biogas. According to incomplete statistics, the city currently has over 200,000 mu of land dedicated to ecological farming and breeding practices that rely on biogas. There are garden-based circular models, represented by villages such as Lukou Village in Liangyuan Town, Feidong County, and Xinmin Village in Xiaomiao Town, Shushan District, where household biogas systems are used as a key element. There are also base-based circular models, exemplified by companies like Kexin Breeding and Farming Company in Changfeng County and Qianxi Villa Breeding Company in Feixi County, which utilize biogas facilities for their operations. These models promote a sustainable cycle between planting and breeding activities, help reduce agricultural costs, increase farmers’ incomes, and facilitate the transformation and development of the agricultural economy. In addition, Hefei has organized the development of rural energy projects to consolidate the achievements of converting farmland back to forests, thereby promoting the use of renewable clean energy in rural areas. Last year, Hefei completed the construction tasks for rural energy projects aimed at consolidating the achievements of converting farmland back to forests during the 2012–2013 period. 9,626 new provincial-standard cooking stoves and 6,489 solar water heaters were installed; these projects benefited 16,115 households, totaling 56,400 people, in the areas where farmland had been converted back to forests.