Biomass use for energy generation grows
O Estado de S. Paulo - 04/30/2008
Biomass use as fuel and for electric energy generation in the Brazilian industries is in expansion. Pretty common in the sugar cane and alcohol sectors, where bagasse is burned to generate energy, biomass is also being used in industries of other segments, such as food. Gravel, wood chips, rice husk, and babaçu coconut are some examples of new fuels that are replacing fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas, to produce steam in plant boilers. In addition to its calorific power, biomass can also serve to generate electric energy - studies of the Federal Government indicate that Brazil has the potential to generate up to 8 thousand megawatts (MW) with biomass alone, more than half of the capacity of Itaipu hydroelectric plant. «The number of projects of thermoelectric power plants that use biomass doubled in the last two years. The reasons are economic and environmental ones, since the electric energy rates have been increasing, while the costs for the implementation of a thermoelectric plant can be partly compensated by the sale of carbon credits », explained Ricardo Pretz, director of the PTZ Bioenergia, a company which has executed energy generation projects using biomass for 15 years. «There is potential do produce at least 3 thousand MW of energy in the short term », said Pretz. According to him, energetic utilization is advantageous for companies that generate much waste and need to take care of their final destination. It is the case of the agro industry - food and sugarcane - and forest basis companies, such as cellulose and paper producers. Rice producer, Camil, was one of the first companies in the food sector to invest in a thermoelectric plant, in its plant of Itaqui (RS), in 2001. The plant produces 4.5 MW of energy, sufficient to supply the consumption of the company and sell the exceeding production in the market. Camil already studies the project of a new thermoelectric plant using husk rice for the plant in Camaquã (RS). Beverage producer AmBev is also expanding the use of biomass in its plants, for use in boilers, replacing fossil fuel oil. Today, seven plants of the company burn biomass in their boilers, and an eighth project, in São Luis, is being studied. The kind of waste varies according to the region. "In Viamão (RS), the fuel is husk rice, in Teresina, the babaçu coconut shell, and in Agudos (SP) chips of reforestation wood», explained AmBev's environmental corporative manager, Beatriz Oliveira. According to Beatriz, the projects began in 2003. The following year biomass represented 1% of the company's calorific energy matrix. In 2007, it reached 34%, and it should close 2008 at 38%. «This reduced our fuel costs in 15%, even with the increase of the oil price in the period», she said.