Around 150,000 rural households in southwest China's Tibet have had access to clean biogas energy utilization by end of the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), according to the Tibet Economic Work Conference held recently, Tibet Daily reported.
Despite the region's abundant hydro, solar and wind energy reserve, Tibet used to rely mainly on cow dung or firewood for heat, which was inconvenient and caused pollution to natural environment.
In 2006, China allocated over 19 million yuan for rural biogas system construction in Lhasa, Nyingchi, Qamdo Lhoka and Shigatse. The biogas project requires more than just building a simple biogas tank. It integrates a comprehensive set including vegetable greenhouse, kitchen, toilet and livestock pens.
"Biogas is clean and easy to use. I just need to turn on the switch, no waste of time on firewood or cow dung," Kalsang Sgrol Dkar, a countryside villager from Lhasa said excitedly about his methane system.
Ostensibly, Tibet has found a new way to develop clean energy utilization by turning rural wastes such as straw, dung and rubbish into useful treasures like fuel, fodder and fertilizer.
