Features of anaerobic digestion plants in the brazilian agricultural sector
Diego Durante Mühl, Letícia de Oliveira
Abstract
In the context of Brazilian agriculture, anaerobic digestion (AD) is an opportunity, and there are technical and economic conditions to explore. Thus, this study investigated the characteristics of anaerobic digestion plants in Brazilian farming. We carried out a descriptive statistical analysis of anaerobic digestion plants in the agricultural and livestock sector in Brazil. The anaerobic digestion plants in operation have increased exponentially from 2003 to 2020. About 79% of the anaerobic digestion plants in Brazil use agricultural and livestock waste, but combined, they only produce 11% of the total biogas; 31% of these plants produce between 150,000 and 200,000 Nm³/biogas per year, and 78% produce less than 500,000 Nm³/biogas per year. About 89% of all AD plants in the agricultural and livestock sector produce electrical energy. For most Brazilian rural properties, a small AD plant capable of producing electricity is ideal. Our results will facilitate the development of technologies focused on the needs of rural properties, and we believe that this is one of the keys to promoting a circular bioeconomy in agriculture.