Eletrobras to study biogas generation

Brazil's federal electric power holding Eletrobras has signed a technical cooperation agreement to study the feasibility of generating energy from biogas emitted by organic refuse, the company said in a statement. Eletrobras, in partnership with local federal power company CGTEE and Porto Alegre city government in Rio Grande do Sul state, foresees the possibility of producing 6.5MWh at CGTEE's Nutepa plant. The Nutepa oil-fired plant has a capacity to generate 24MW but is only used at peak times. "The cooperation deal is one of the ways to revitalize the CGTEE plant, taking advantage of its strategic location for distribution," said Paulo Coutinho, an Eletrobras environmental advisor. The feasibility study is scheduled for completion in six months. Alessando Barcellos, environmental advisor for CGTEE, estimates Brazil produces 45 million tonnes a day of organic waste, capable of generating 100MW.