On Monday, December 19, 2016, the governor Rui Costa inaugurated an electric power plant produced from the biogas generated in the sewage treatment done at the Jacuípe II station in Feira de Santana. With the methane gas resulting from the decomposition of organic matter in the domestic sewage, the plant is generating the energy necessary to drive a good part of the station’s electromechanical equipment. The investment was in the order of R $ 4.6 million, of which R $ 3.6 million comes from the Research and Development Program of Coelba, approved by Aneel, regulatory agency of the electric sector, and R $ 840 thousand are own resources Of Embasa.

“With this new model of biogas use, we are taking better care of the environment and generating more savings, which should also reflect positively on the water tariff and depletion. It is the first implementation of this experience in Bahia and, in this format, with the technology we use here, is the first in Brazil, said Rui.

All the energy produced from the biogas will be used to supply the electricity consumption of the treatment plant, representing a reduction of energy expenditure from R $ 26 thousand to R $ 5 thousand per month. The gains for Embasa go well beyond the financial aspect. “In addition to reducing the energy bill, which is one of our biggest expenses, another very positive impact will be the significant decrease in the volume of polluting gas released into the atmosphere. The search for clean energy sources has motivated institutions around the world. And Embasa’s work will serve to verify the economic-financial viability of this type of technology, which can be replicated in other places in the future, “said company president Rogério Cedraz.

“The project carried out in Feira de Santana had the objective of studying the economic viability of this technology for the Brazilian market, since one of the main barriers to make its use a reality in the country is, precisely, the proof of its effectiveness, within the parameters Capable of improving the efficiency of the process of treatment of effluents from an energetic point of view, “explains José Antônio Brito, research and development manager at Coelba. “The information developed in the research will be disseminated with the objective of reducing the uncertainties involved in the use of biogas in treatment plants, thus increasing the reliability of investing in this technology,” the manager adds.

Reference – The biogas generation system will also serve as a study platform for researchers, university students and technicians from Embasa itself or from other sanitation companies, as Professor Roque Araújo of the Uefs Technology Department testifies. “This partnership means the possibility of developing a series of studies, based on the dynamics of operation and operation of the ETE. We can develop studies that improve the production and use of biogas or improve the removal of sludge from the sludge, for example “, says the professor, who worked at Embasa for 39 years and was one of the responsible for the implementation of this power generation project.

As a result of a project aimed at the efficient use of electric energy in the operation of sewage systems, the successful initiative is the result of a partnership between the Bahia Water and Sanitation Company (Embasa), the State Electricity Company of Bahia (Coelba ) And the State University of Feira de Santana (Uefs).

Expansion of the system – The second stage of expansion of the sanitary sewage system of the municipality in the Jacuípe Basin area was also given, promoting the collection, treatment and correct disposal of domestic sewage. More than 18,000 meters of land lines and branches were installed in the Tomba district, annexation of the Viveiros Suite depletion system, as well as improvements in the treatment plant. The investment was approximately R $ 17 million, benefiting 20 thousand inhabitants.

Source: Embasa
Republished: Tratamento de Água