Spatial distribution and influencing factors of China’s household biogas: Evidence from provincial-level data

Abstract Household biogas, a kind of clean energy, has drawn attention from scholars. To deal with the adjustment of the Chinese agricultural industry and to promote the better development of Chinese household biogas, this article summarizes and analyses the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of the type and number of biogas digesters, biogas production, the biogas fermentation material, and the methods of fermentation residue utilization and ecological agriculture with household biogas in the Chinese household biogas industry by compiling dataset covering 31 provinces. The results show that hydraulic biogas digesters are mainly distributed in northwestern and northeastern China; in addition, continuously stirred biogas digesters and bottom-discharging biogas digesters are mainly distributed in southern and northern China, respectively. Biogas slurry and residue are widely used as fertilizers and feed; furthermore, biogas slurry is also used for seed soaking in northeastern and southern China. The “Three-in-one” and “Four-in-one” biogas ecological models are mostly used in southern and northern China, respectively, and both of them are mainly affected by temperature. Our findings are critical for China's government to formulate appropriate policies and adopt effective measures for promoting the development of cleaner energy and layout of the agricultural industry.