By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The state of Paraná will be the first in Brazil to build an energy generation station through sewage and organic waste, a biogas plant that transforms waste into electricity to supply homes in the region.
The Environmental Institute of Paraná granted the license for the operation to the company CS Bioenergia. According to the company, the plant will be capable of producing 2.8 megawatts of electricity from garbage, supplying some 2,000 homes in the state.
The raw material for energy generation will come from sewage treatment plants and garbage collection.
In addition to biogas, it will also produce biofertilizer for the region. It is expected that this will deflect 1000 m³ of sewage sludge and 300 tons of organic waste from landfills.
Europe is a pioneer in the production of biogas from biodigestion, boasting some 14,000 plants.
Germany alone is home to 8,000 units. In Brazil, biogas is still a small part of the energy system and is accounted for together with other biofuels such as sugarcane bagasse, which makes up the biomass responsible for 8.8 percent of the energy generated in the country.