President of the Pindorama Cooperative, Klcio Santos, (photo – 3rd from left to right) with members of ZEG Biogs – Photo: Assessoria The area destined for the construction of the unit covers about 5 hectares, provided by the cooperative. According to Klcio Santos, president of Pindorama, the plant is expected to start operating in 2025, generating 6 million cubic meters of biogas and biomethane annually.
The biogas, originated from the decomposition of organic matter from the production of sugar and alcohol, will be used as fuel in motor generators and in the generation of electricity. In turn, biomethane, extracted from vinasse, is a purified gas by-product with several applications, and can replace natural gas in industries and fleets.
The Pindorama Cooperative estimates that the annual production is equivalent to the volume of 30,000 liters of diesel oil produced daily over the course of a year. With this volume, it is expected to reduce 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually into the atmosphere, replacing the fossil matrix with a renewable one.
Klcio Santos points out: "We will be the protagonists of another innovative project here in the Northeast, which is the capture of biomethane from our vinasse production, a very interesting project for several aspects, including the environmental issue, as it is a renewable energy that will replace fossil energy. With this, we will contribute significantly to the preservation of the planet."
ZEG Biogs will be responsible for the entire technological solution for the generation of biogas and for the purification of biofuel, and may also invest in the project. In addition, it will exclusively market all the biomethane produced by the plant. Pindorama, in turn, will supply the areas for the unit's physical facilities, the raw material necessary for the production of biogas and will evaluate the possibility of investing in the project.
According to Fernando Mayer, commercial manager of ZEG Biogs, biomethane is chemically similar to Natural Petroleum Gas (NGP), but, being of renewable origin, it emits 90% less greenhouse gases compared to other fossil fuels, contributing positively to the mitigation of climate change.