Mapping the potential of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in generating electricity from biogas from anaerobic digestion of vinasse

Abstract

This study aimed to map and estimate the potential of electricity generation from biogas produced through the anaerobic digestion process of vinasse in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, focusing on the energy use of an electric powered otto cyclemotor generator set. The potential for electric power generation was estimated from the amount of sugarcane produced in the 2018/2019 harvest in each municipality of the State. Then, the map was made with the spatialization of the information, in order to denote the municipal potentialities of the regions with the highest available energy indices. Energy availability was in the order of 746.43 GWh for each sugarcane crop, being more concentrated in the Triangulo Mineiro Region. Therefore, the use of this biomass waste into the anaerobic digestion process to produce electricity from biogas represents an environmental solution, an economical alternative and a social benefit.