Review Socio-economic, health and agriculture benefits of rural household biogas plants in energy scarce developing countries: A case study from Pakistan Abdullah Yasar * , Saba Nazir, Amtul Bari Tabinda, Masooma Nazar, Rizwan Rasheed, Muhammad Afzaal Sustainable Development Study Center, GC University Lahore, Pakistan article info Article history: Received 6 April 2016 Received in revised form 12 January 2017 Accepted 16 February 2017 Available online 20 February 2017 Keywords: Biogas Fossil fuel Renewable energy Animal dung abstract Biogas can be used as main component towards energy scarcity. It is important to find out social and economic assessment of different commonly adopted biogas plants in deprived rural areas at domestic level. The study design was based on questionnaire, field visit, observation and manipulation in terms of change in energy usage, kind of benefits, incidence of disease, change in sanitation, gender empower- ment and operational activities of biogas plant. The results of questionnaire showed that installation of biogas plant has resulted in economic, social and health improvements by reducing expenditure of fuel and fertilizer along with time saving and lessen cases of disease. Biogas plants were mostly installed in those houses that have higher number of family members ranged from 12 to 15. Saving on energy expenditure was 53.3% due to use of biogas. It appeared that 43% women were getting more benefits from biogas by saving 50% of their time which was previously used for collection of wood. Total monthly saving in term of socio-economic and health was 48$ by the use of biogas plant of single household. There was 25% reduction in respiratory ailment and cardiovascular disease due to the reduction in air pollution by the use biogas plant. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 20 2. Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 20 2.1. Description of the study site ................................................................................................... 20 2.2. Sampling unit ................................................................................................................ 21 2.3. Key informants ............................................................................................................... 21 2.4. Survey instrument for questionnaire ............................................................................................ 21 2.5. Data compilation .............................................................................................................. 21 2.6. Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................ 21 3. Results and discussion .............................................................................................................. 21 3.1. Demographic analysis .......................................................................................................... 21 3.2. Impacts of biogas production on energy situation ........................................... ..................................... 21 3.3. Impacts of biogas production on sustainability of agriculture ...................................................................... 22 3.4. Impact of production of biogas on income of family .......................................... .................................... 23 3.5. Impact on health condition due to generation of biogas ........................................................................... 23 3.6. Impact on social condition of biogas owner ...................................................................................... 23 3.7. Operation and maintenance of biogas plant ...................................................................................... 24 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: yasar.abdullah@gmail.com (A. Yasar). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Renewable Energy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/renene http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.044 0960-1481/© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Renewable Energy 108 (2017) 19e25