Evaluation of the Environmental Benefits from the Development and Utilization of Solar Energy Resources in Resettlement Areas of "Three-River-Source"
三江源移民安置区太阳能资源开发利用环境效益评估——以贵南县为例

Sanjiangyuan area is the most important ecological-adjustment area in China, but also the most fragile. It plays a pivotal role in China water resource safety, eco-safety, and national solidarity; however, the area also has the lowest economic development levels in China. Biomass energy, such as that from cattle dung, is used by local households as the main source of fuel and as a consequence fragile alpine meadow ecosystems in the area are being destroyed. Local households have been advised to use solar energy devices provided free by the government. Household surveys were done to ascertain current solar energy utilization and evaluate the development and potential utilization of solar energy. Emergy produced by solar energy equipment in all peasant households in Guinan County was calculated based on the number of solar energy devices being used and the number potentially used. We found that solar energy equipment currently in use produces 99717500 MJ of energy each year in Guinan County-the energy equivalent of dry dung from 191107 hm2 of meadow supporting yaks. If this amount of dung was returned to the meadowland, the value of meadow ecosystem services would increase by 1.25759 billion CNY. If solar energy resources in Guinan County were developed and used comprehensively, 113380 t of standard coal would be saved-the energy equivalent of dry dung from 6368309 hm2 of meadow supporting yaks. If this dung was returned to the meadowland, the value to meadow ecosystem services would increase by 41.90686 CNY.