Zhengzhou, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The green energy transformation and development in rural areas are of significant importance to promoting rural revitalization, achieving carbon peak, carbon neutrality goals, and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. Recently, Zhang Daoyuan, Vice Chairman of Henan Tian Lun Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., suggested accelerating the green and low-carbon energy transformation in rural areas in Henan Province.
"Henan is a major grain-producing province with abundant straw resources. Biogas has a huge industrial potential in our province's path to green and low-carbon development." Zhang Daoyuan said that Henan has already implemented biogas practices and achieved comprehensive economic, social, and ecological benefits. However, during the implementation of specific programs, challenges have emerged where biogas does not receive the equitable market price of "same quality, same price" as conventional gas.
Zhang Daoyuan suggested improving the subsidy mechanism for Henan Province's biogas programs from the following three. First, in terms of ecological and environmental governance such as removing straw from fields, harvesting and storage, and disposal, simplify the program subsidy application process and raise the threshold for program application, thereby avoiding issues like misallocation and non-standard allocation of special funds. Second, provide financial subsidies for the volume and price of biogas, with supervision by third-party organizations entrusted by central special funds, establish a special subsidy account for biogas programs, and disburse funds to programs in installments with the program's actual production capacity as a result orientation to enhance the efficiency of payment disbursement. Third, local governments should establish operational subsidy mechanisms and improve preferential policies for biogas programs in land usage, electricity prices, and taxation.
In recent years, Henan has actively promoted the rural energy revolution and implemented the "Gas Penetration in Rural Areas" project, enabling the majority of rural customers to enjoy natural gas that is as clean, convenient in use, affordable, and high-quality as that in urban areas. However, in this heating season, challenges in ensuring natural gas supply have also emerged in some Henan rural areas, with prominent price inversion.
Regarding the safeguarding of natural gas for rural residents and the full allocation of natural gas usage quotas for rural residents, Zhang Daoyuan believed that a provincial-level natural gas supply guarantee task force for rural areas should be established to scientifically assess the demand for natural gas in rural areas; feedback mechanisms with national relevant departments should be set up to smooth communication channels and guide upstream gas supply companies to scientifically determine the proportion of natural gas distribution for public welfare; and relevant departments should supervise the signing of contracts by upstream and downstream companies and the verification of residential gas volumes based on the annual natural gas demand forecast for the province and strictly implement the full supply of contract gas volumes following the policy requirements of the National Development and Reform Commission. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to actively coordinate with upstream gas supply units to meet the account opening needs of rural natural gas supply enterprises, effectively reducing the cost of purchasing gas and the pressure of gas supply.
Zhang Daoyuan stated that in 2024, Tian Lun Group will actively optimize energy structures, innovate low-carbon energy supplies, and systematically advance the development of new energy fields such as "gas-electricity coordination" and biomass energy, boosting the green and low-carbon energy transformation in rural areas in Henan.