Biogas Energy Efficiency in Ninh Binh

22/10/2012

To improve rural living standards and to popularize biogas energy among people, especially women, at the same time implementing the programme for energy efficiency and waste treatment, Ninh Binh Women Federation has initiated the project “Households using biogas to save energy” in the whole province.

To carry out modernization and industrialization, provincial agriculture has developed with farms, agriculture production and many other activities. This process goes hand in hand with increasing waste, which badly affects the environment. Therefore, solving the environmental problems remains an urgent matter, which, if solved, could create low cost energy for local people.

Statistics has shown that a family of 4-6 people uses up to 72kg of industrial gas a year, or 2400 Kwh electricity. If using biogas, they will save the whole amount, equivalent to VND290,000 a month. That totals up to VND3.8 million a year.

With that obvious advantage of using biogas, the province has implemented the project “Households using biogas to save energy” with 300 households in 14 communes, saving about 25,200 kg of industrial gas, equivalent to 720,000 Kwh of electricity.

Women’s leagues in some districts and communes have surveyed 544 households in areas that registered to participate in the project in 2011. Results show that after 5 months of implementation, all the families have completed their construction projects and put them into operation. Out of 300 pits, 291 have capacity from 10m3 to 19 m3 and the remaining of over 20 m3. In addition, all the families chose to build KT2 pits (of hemispheric shape and made of composite); 250/300 built the pits outside the pigsties, 50 within the sty area, and 40 use composite equipment. Some families, not included in the subsidized list but wishing to install the pits have been supported with trained builders and supervised construction. Therefore, in 2011, these communes had an addition of 254 biogas projects.

The project has brought about obvious effects. According to Ms Vu Thi Tan, Chairperson of the project, the project has stopped the free waste disposal to village lanes, maintaining a clean environment and helping to develop the new rural areas. In addition, the project has also improved women’s and children’s health as they no longer have to contact smoke when cooking. Deforestation has also been reduced, protecting the environment and balancing the ecosystem.

By Chau Giang

Biogas Energy Efficiency in Ninh Binh

Energy/ Policy Expert Contract Award Notice

National Energy Efficiency Programme - Ministry of Industry and Trade