Currently, Brazil utilizes 1,5% of the potential for biomethane and 5,6% for biogas, according to data presented by Yuri Schmitke, president of ABREN (Brazilian Association of Energy from Waste).
The information was released during the Brazil-Switzerland Infrastructure Forum 2025, held on Thursday (4), in São Paulo (SP), where the executive discussed the panorama of waste energy in the country.
In the panel “Waste-to-Energy and Biogas”, Schmitke detailed that the national potential for biomethane is estimated at 44,1 billion Nm³/year, but production in 2024 reached only 0,67 billion Nm³/year, distributed across 53 plants.
Biogas has a potential of 84,6 billion Nm³/year, compared to the 4,7 billion Nm³/year produced by 1.587 plants. In both cases, the sugarcane and agro-industrial sectors account for more than 90% of the total capacity.
The president of ABREN highlighted that expanding the use of these sources is strategic for the energy transition.Biomethane is emerging as the fuel of the future, playing a strategic role in the decarbonization of transport and in replacing diesel and fossil natural gas.”, He stated.
He further emphasized that the competitiveness of biogas depends on price benchmarks that enable long-term contracts.
Schmitke also drew attention to the obstacles in solid waste management. Even 15 years after the National Solid Waste Policy, more than 40% of urban waste still ends up in open dumps and controlled landfills.
Meanwhile, countries like China, Japan, and members of the European Union have around 3.000 energy recovery plants. In Brazil, the estimated potential is 130 plants of 20 MW each, which would represent 3,3 GW of installed capacity and R$180 billion in investments.
For the sector to move forward, Schmitke advocated for coordinated action between governments and companies.There is still time for the country to overcome the obstacles that hinder the development of biogas, biomethane, and energy recovery, but effective action and political will are needed.”He concluded.
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