(1) Objective:

The Sunflower Project is a village biogas demonstration scheme, which aims to recover animal waste to generate methane for cooking and lighting.

The “pig waste—methane—organic farming” model showcases the essence and benefit of sustainable alternative energy.It also highlights multiple environmental, social and economic benefits

which include:

(2) Project Proponent:

Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association is an NGO set up and registered in October 1997 by the Shaanxi Province Women Federation which belongs to a national network of the influential All China Women Federation.The Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association currently has 1200 members.

Ms Wang Ming-ying, a veteran women capacity builder and networker, is the project coordinator.

(3) Track Record:

1999 7 village biogas pilot schemes launched in Baota, Yan’an

2000 -01153 biogas pilot schemes launched in 5 villages

2002 -04814 biogas pilot schemes completed in 9 villages

2005 170 biogas pilot schemes completed in 5 villages

A total of 1144 biogas generation units have been built in 26 villages within 18 counties and a total of 1144 households with over 5700 persons benefited.

(4) Economical, Social & Environmental Benefits:

(a) Economic Benefits:

Each biogas generation unit, average size 8 to 10 cubic meters, can produce 380 to 450 cubic meters of methane gas as daily fuel for an average family of 3 to 5 persons for 10 to 12 months.

This represents a reduction of 2000 kg of coal burning and 200 kwh of electricity consumption per village household.Not including the transport cost of $298 RMB per 1000 Kg of coal.

At 2005, 1144 biogas generation units have been built in 26 villages within 18 counties and a total of 1144 households have benefited.

This is equivalent to a total supply of 434,720 to 414,800 cubic meters of biogas to meet one year’s daily fuel need of over 5700 individuals.

The implementation of 1144 biogas units together have achieved reduction of 2,288,000 kg of coal burning and228,800 kwh of electricity consumption and an eventual cost saving of RMB$793,936.

Additional cost saving is being achieved by recovering biogas residue as fertilizer substitute which has proven to increase plant and fruit growth by 5 to 10%.

(b) Ecological Benefits:

An 8 to 10 cubic meter biogas unit could supply fuel equivalent to 3 mu (Chinese hectare) of firewood.It contributes to arresting deforestation and soil erosion and achieves a cost saving of RMB$600 for reforestation spending.

Significant ecological benefits also include reduction of animal waste contamination of precious water resources, alleviation of air pollutants from dirty coal and firewood burning and the overall improvement of village hygiene and quality of life as a result of the retrofitting of pig sties, toilets and kitchen stoves to build the biogas units.

(c) Social Benefits:

Enhance village women’s role and social status in village sustainable development while liberating village women from firewood collection and cooking chores.They could devote more time to organic farming and child rearing and parenting.

(d) Methodology and Approach:

Promotion of sustainable energy and sustainable farming echoes China’s national policy of sustainable development and circular economy for the betterment and poverty alleviation of rural regions and villages.

The Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association undertook the following steps of implementation:

(e) Source of Funding and Management :

RMB $225,000 spent on capacity building & technological training

RMB $915,200 spent on subsidy for retrofitting pig sties, toilets & kitchen

RMB $113,100 spent on administrative and project management fees

Cost control and fund management:

Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association (project assessment & approval committee) and ShaanxiProvince Women Federation jointly oversee the funding expenditure.

60% of funding disbursed at the launch of the pilot schemes

40% of funding disbursed at the completion and evaluation of projects

Current funding model:Tripartite funding commitment*

Local government matching subsidy + philanthropic donation + village household contributions

(a) Future Goals:

If more funding resources are available, it is hoped to expand the biogas demonstration units to more needy households.

(b) Funding needed to accomplish future goals

Total funding need = RMB $ 420,020

(c) Strategic Partner

Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) is an environmental charity organization established in Hong Kong since 1983 whose mission is to safeguard the local and regional environment through education, research, lobbying and community mobilization.

1992

Director Mrs. Mei Ng embarked on environmental education lecture tours around China and network with thousands of outstanding green achievers and organizations.Her green footprints have covered 29,000 km within 15 provinces and major cities in China spreading the green message to over 860,000 people in the last decade and a half.

1998

Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) learnt about the Shaanxi

Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association when Ms Wang Ming-ying was honored with the Earth Award by Friends of the Earth (HK) for her outstanding leadership role in actualizing the goals of the Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association through mobilizing village women to replant eroded mountains and hillsides.

1998

Mrs. Mei Ng, Director of Friends of the Earth (HK) was invited to Xian to speak at environmental workshops for teachers, business women and lady mayors as well as women community workers.

1999

Friends of the Earth (HK) and the Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association jointly organized a student summer training camp and study visit for women in Hong Kong.

2004

Mrs. Mei Ng returned to Xian on a green lecture tour speaking to students at major universities and exchanging views with budding green organizations and their young leaders.

She also visited DaliCounty where the Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association has launched the biogas demonstration project.She inspected biogas units and spoke with participant households and village women.

2005

Impressed and touched by the vision of the Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association to empower village women for self sustainability and village sustainability, Mrs. Mei Ng decided to lend support to the meaningful village biogas project by publicizing it overseas and appeal for international funding support.

Mrs. Mei Ng succeeded in raising HK$252,500 donation from Hong Kong philanthropists to fund the implementation of biogas unit for 170 households.

Mrs. Ng invited Hong Kong celebrity-turned-nature photographer Ms Cherie Chung to visit Yan’an’s BaotaCounty where over 100 village households have installed biogas units with funds raised from Hong Kong donors.

Mrs. Mei Ng proposed to rebrand the village biogas scheme by renaming it as the “Sunflower Project”.

Sunflower grows from the soil.It stands upright and faces the sun.It symbolizes hope and sunshine.This reflects the willpower of village women in self-help and advancement.

2006 & Beyond

Shaanxi Province, located in the arid region of China, is vulnerable to droughts, deforestation and soil erosion.

Rural villagers are facing water shortage, energy shortage and resource shortage.

There are thousands and thousands of needy village households who deserve care and support.The most sustainable help is to offer capacity building opportunities to empower village women to adopt sustainable energy and sustainable farming practices.

Friends of the Earth (HK) shares the vision and mission of turning village women power into green power and is honored to be a strategic partner in this meaningful project to facilitate rural sustainable development.

Contacts:

Ms Wang Ming-ying

Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteer Association

57 Yucai Road, Xian City, Shaanxi Province, China

(86) 29-85588357,(86) 29-85582046,(86) 29-85581961

Email: sxmmhb@sina.com

Mrs. Mei Ng

UN Global 500 Laureate

Director

Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong)

53 Lockhart Road, 2/F

Wanchai, Hong Kong

(852) 2528-5588 (tel)

Email: meing@foe.org.hk

Website: www.foe.org.hk