Bioelectricity and fuel switch for the soybean industry
Localization:
Brazil – Village of Itacoatiara, state of Amazonas, in the North-West of the country, on the border with the city of Manaus (coordinates: 3°08’ S, 58°26’ W).
Project type:
Carbon offset program – Energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Development methodologies:
AMS I.A. "Electricity generation by the user", AMS I.D. "Grid connected renewable electricity generation", and AMS III.E. "Avoidance of methane production from decay of biomass through controlled combustion, gasification or mechanical/thermal treatment", published by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
First operational: 07/12/2004
Validation:
Auditor: ICONTEC, 14/11/2008.
Vérification:
Auditor: ICONTEC, 14/11/2008.
Background:
Brazil has a sizeable stock of biomass residues derived from the agricultural sector’s by-products, e.g. from sawmills, one of the main activities of the state of Amazonas, where the project is located. Such waste is left decomposing in open air, which causes large amounts of methane being released into the atmosphere (60% of atmosphere’s methane is from human origin).
Description:
The project is located in a remote area without access to electricity. The aim is to recover this unused sawmill biomass as a source of energy to operate a soybean treatment plant, as a substitute to diesel powered generators and to thermal units running on combustible oil. The facility belongs to the Maggi Group and employs 750 people in the Itacoatiara municipality. Soybean treatment is a highly energy-consuming activity. Biomass upgrading is an efficient and clean alternative to fossil fuels, and allows combining economic development and environmental benefits in these remote areas of Brazil.
Technology:
Biomass power plants operate like thermal power plants. Only the fuel changes. But technical characteristics vary according to the fuel used, which requires significant investments to adapt existing production units. The aim here is to produce thermal energy from biomass with cogeneration of electricity, to meet the soybean treatment facility’s needs. The facility has a 40.8 MW and 3.5 MW thermal production capacity and electricity production capacity respectively.
Carbon credit type: VER Kyoto
(i.e. following an UNFCCC methodology, validated and verified by an independent auditor, in compliance with the ADEME charter for carbon offset).
Project benefits:
Environmental benefits:
Fight against climate change by avoiding methane emissions.
Reduction of the contamination of soils and aquifer environments.
Fight against desertification provoked by the dispersion of sawdust in surrounding soils.
Improvement of local areas’ quality, by recovering waste otherwise left decomposing in open air.
Economic and social benefits:
Creation of jobs for the construction and maintenance of power plants, the dissemination of technology and the shipment of biomass.
Protection of jobs generated by the soybean treatment facility by providing a clean and economic source of energy.
Improvement of local communities’ living conditions thanks to the reduction of atmospheric pollution and of respiratory diseases (resulting from decomposition and burning).
EcoAct Guaranties:
EcoAct is entitled to audit the project at any time.
Presence of an EcoAct branch in Brazil, capable of ensuring a regular follow-up of the project and of its social and environmental impact.
