Chesf invests in energy generation from biogas.

Leonardo Lucena_PE247 – The president of the Pernambuco Hydroelectric Company (Chesf), João Bosco de Almeida, signed a cooperation agreement for the implementation of four power plants in the state that will generate energy using biogas, which is produced from the decomposition of organic materials such as organic waste and industrial residues of plant origin, as well as animal manure. The initiative, approved by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), is part of the company's Research and Development (R&D) project for the creation of a Waste Energy Recovery Platform in Pernambuco and a specialized biogas laboratory. With an investment of R$ 45 million, the plants will have the capacity to produce 2,4 megawatts (MW), benefiting 20 homes.

Of the R$45 million, R$39,1 million (87%) will be disbursed by Chesf itself, while the remainder will come from the Secretariat of Water Resources and Energy (SRHE). According to the company, of the 2,4 MW, 1,2 MW will come from waste, 1 MW from sugarcane vinasse, and 0,2 MW from cassava wastewater.

“There will be two urban solid waste plants and two agro-industrial effluent plants,” said the Chesf project manager, Alcides Codeceira Neto. “Chesf is at the forefront of the search for energy recovery from urban solid waste and liquid waste that is underutilized or unexplored by the agro-industry, thus seeking the development of national technologies in the area of ​​energy generation through biogas,” he added. 

The executive secretary of SRHE, Eduardo Azevedo, informed that there may be commercialization for micro and small generation, for consumption of up to 50 kilowatts (KW) or to the free market.

The state-owned company from Pernambuco will have partners such as the Federal University of Pernambuco, the Brazilian Institute of Engineering, Innovation and Strategy (Engine), the Itaipu Technological Park Foundation (FPTI) and the Institute of Applied Technology and Innovation (ITAI).