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Bill Aims to Include Biogas Plants in the Electric Capacity Reserve, with Potential to Benefit the Energy Sector and National Sustainability
The Brazilian Association of Waste Energy (ABREN) proposed a bill to allow the hiring of biogas plants as part of the electric capacity reserve of the power system. The measure could represent an important step for Brazil’s energy security and the sustainable use of organic waste.
Biogas as Energy Backup: Sustainable and Strategic Solution
The bill coordinated by ABREN aims to allow biogas plants to be hired directly by the federal government as providers of reserve electric energy. This means that these plants could be activated during peak demand times or in critical supply situations, reinforcing the stability of the national power system. The initiative would also open up space for new investments in the sector, especially in regions with strong agricultural production and usable urban waste as energy feedstock.
According to ABREN, the potential of biogas plants in Brazil is still underutilized, despite the country having one of the largest waste-to-energy generation capacities in the world. The use of this type of clean and renewable source can significantly help reduce dependence on fossil and carbon-emitting sources while promoting regional development and job creation in the bioenergy sector.
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Brazilian scientists are simultaneously advancing two research projects on clean hydrogen and driving solutions that could transform the energy matrix, enhance industrial competitiveness, and accelerate large-scale emission reduction targets.
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Advancement in renewable energy: A R$ 150 million project launched by Petrobras and Finep aims to create state-of-the-art electrolyzers for green hydrogen, strengthening national research and preparing Brazil to compete in a billion-dollar energy market.
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Illiterate or semi-literate grandmothers were trained to repair solar systems, open rural workshops, and light up homes that still depended on kerosene.
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The world has bet on green hydrogen as the fuel of the future, but now faces the side effect: producing 1 kilogram requires about 9 liters of ultrapure water, and the largest projects on the planet are precisely in the driest regions of the Earth, where water is already scarce for people.
Biogas at the Center of Brazil’s Energy Transition
In addition to reinforcing the energy matrix with a clean and constant source, biogas plants play a fundamental role in the country’s decarbonization policy. Generation from biogas reduces greenhouse gas emissions and transforms problematic waste, such as manure, food scraps, and urban waste, into electricity and fertilizer. According to Eixos, ABREN’s proposal could accelerate the adoption of this technology, which has proven effective in countries like Germany, Sweden, and Japan.
Infrastructure and Incentives: What’s Missing for Biogas Plants to Take Off?
Despite the enormous potential, the expansion of biogas plants in Brazil still faces structural challenges. Among the main obstacles are the lack of specific financing lines, bureaucratic hurdles for connecting to the power grid, and the absence of more robust public policies. Experts point out that the approval of the bill proposed by ABREN may be the necessary push to unlock investments and create a more competitive market, contributing to energy security, sustainability, and diversification of the Brazilian matrix.
