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Joinville Inaugurates Pioneer Project in Latin America That Transforms Waste into Clean Energy. The New Energy Recovery Unit Marks an Advance in Brazil’s Energy Transition
This Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Joinville, Santa Catarina, made history by inaugurating the first Energy Recovery Unit in Latin America capable of transforming urban solid waste into electricity. The initiative represents a significant advance in the energy transition in Brazil and positions the municipality as a reference in environmental innovation.
Clean Energy and Innovation: Joinville as a Reference in Latin America
With an investment of R$ 127 million and a capacity to process 110 tons of waste per day, the URE Joinville Ambiental plant can supply energy to around 7,000 homes with renewable energy. The project is the result of a partnership between the Joinville City Hall and the company Ambiental, responsible for managing the city’s solid waste.
The URE Joinville Ambiental is the first plant in Latin America to use cutting-edge technology to convert urban waste into industrial biosynthetic fuel, which powers electricity-generating boilers. The process is inspired by models already established in countries such as Germany, Japan, France, Denmark, and Sweden.
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The facility occupies an area of 7,000 m² and operates 24 hours a day, six days a week, with continuous energy generation seven days a week. This ensures energy efficiency and a significant reduction in environmental impact.
Environmental and Social Benefits of the Energy Recovery Unit
The implementation of the URE brings a series of advantages for Joinville and Brazil:
- Clean Energy Generation: 2,106 MWh/month, sufficient to supply 7,000 homes.
- Emission Reduction: 29,000 tons of CO₂ per year, equivalent to the pollution generated by 30,000 vehicles.
- Environmental Preservation: 25% increase in the lifespan of the landfill, estimated at up to 25 years.
- Space Savings: approximately 50,000 m² saved in landfills over the next 20 years.
These figures reinforce the role of the URE as a strategic tool in the energy transition, promoting sustainability and efficiency in waste management.
How Does the Energy Recovery Unit Work in Joinville?
The transformation of waste into energy occurs in four main stages:
- Receiving and Sorting: waste is unloaded and automatically sorted, with metal removal.
- Crumbling and Drying: the material is reduced, and moisture is removed with heat from the boiler.
- Production of CBSI: the waste is converted into Homogeneous and Dry Industrial Biosynthetic Compound.
- Energy Generation: the CBSI feeds the boiler, generating steam that drives the electric turbine.
This process ensures environmental safety and energy efficiency, replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources.
Joinville and the Energy Transition in Brazil
The Vice Governor of Santa Catarina, Marilisa Boehm, emphasized that the URE is a model not only for the state but for the entire country. Mayor Adriano Silva reinforced the city’s role as a reference in innovation and sustainability.
With this initiative, Joinville positions itself as a pioneer in the energy transition of the region, showing that it is possible to align urban development with environmental preservation.
International Comparisons and the Role of Latin America
The technology applied in the URE Joinville Ambiental is already used in countries that view waste as an opportunity. Sweden, for example, imports garbage to generate energy. In Istanbul, a plant inaugurated in 2021 processes up to 3,000 tons per day, supplying more than 1.4 million people.
Brazil’s entry into this global scenario reinforces the country’s potential to lead sustainable solutions in Latin America, with Joinville as a practical and functional example.
Sustainability Beyond the Plant: Education and Environmental Culture
Everton Herzer, engineering manager at Ambiental, highlighted that the URE complements but does not replace other sustainable practices such as selective collection, composting, and environmental education.
The plant is part of a culture of continuous investment in technology and innovation. This focus ensures that the population remains engaged in practices that strengthen the energy transition and environmental preservation.
Regional Impact: Joinville and the Future of Clean Energy
The URE Joinville Ambiental not only transforms waste into electricity but also changes how we view urban development. The city gains the potential to become an example of how public policies, technology, and environmental responsibility can work together.
With the capacity to inspire other Brazilian and Latin American cities, Joinville takes on a leadership role in building a cleaner and more efficient energy model. The Energy Recovery Unit is concrete proof that clean energy can be generated from local solutions with a global impact.
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