Special Rural Show: CIBiogás presents new projects at the Itaipu Binacional stand

On Thursday morning (7), the team of engineers from the International Center for Renewable Energy and Biogas – CIBiogás, welcomed visitors to the 31st Coopavel Rural Show with technological advances developed in partnership with Itaipu Binacional, with the Itaipu Technological Park ( PTI) and with Copel. The binational auditorium within the stand provided presentations related to research development and in this context, CIBiogás presented three technological solutions

The CEO of CIBiogás, Rodrigo Régis de Almeida Galvão believes that the projects presented are fundamental for the development of the region, but also for the environment. “These energy solutions transform environmental liabilities into economic assets. They provide appropriate disposal of agricultural waste, and represent a technological advance of national relevance, in addition to offering rural producers safe energy and income alternatives”.

Microgrid

The first novelty could be a milestone of innovation in the development of energy distribution in Brazil. Mechanical engineer Larissa Schmoeller is technically responsible for the Microgrid Pilot Project in the Western Region of Paraná, and explains that this electricity arrangement scheme will benefit rural producers in emergency situations of power outages.

Larissa says that it will be possible to serve a small region with electrical distribution microgrids – which is why it is called a microgrid. “Only on an emergency basis, while Copel’s system is restored.” In this case, energy generation is clean and produced through biogas, a characteristic that gives rural producers the ideal destination of effluents and production waste, reducing energy costs and increasing income.

“The main advantage is the energy security that the producer will have: when the energy goes out he can have problems and losses, for example, with the production of chicks. They can die due to lack of ventilation, or lack of heating when it is winter”, he explains.

This project will provide an opportunity to adapt national legislation. There are currently no laws that regulate this type of activity, and with the development of the project it will be possible to contribute to Brazil implementing and making this service official, based on this pilot project. According to Larissa, this is the first scheme of its kind in Brazil, and will be implemented at Granja São Pedro Colombari, in São Miguel do Iguaçu, in the western region of Paraná.

According to the engineer, the Microgrid project has been running since September 2018, and is developed in partnership with Copel, receiving technical support from the team at the Electrical Systems Automation and Simulation Laboratory, PTI's LASSE. “We are still in the study phase, but from March this year we will start implementing it. And after this stage we go into operation and validation. Then yes, this will go to the market after validation by Copel. And this is as big an innovation as distributed generation,” she comments.

Ernex

Ernex – Energias Renováveis ​​de Excelência, is an online monitoring system for biogas plants, and also for plants that use renewable energy to manufacture energy, fuel and thermal energy. Mechatronics engineer Rodrigo Pastl explains that through this software it will be possible to integrate all people on a rural property who are involved in the production chain - from the producer to the consumer customer at the end.

“With this monitoring system, the producer will not need to be at the plant to check the progress of production. He will be able to monitor production, predict actions and maintenance via his cell phone. This gives assertiveness to the farmer’s decisions”, explains Pastl.

Intelligence

Sensors will be installed on the property and, via the Internet, production data will be sent to CIBiogás servers for monitoring. Pastl exemplifies that it will be possible to check essential parameters for production, such as temperature, pressure, among other measurements. “If the producer quickly knows the causes of problems, he will be more assertive and will be able to act more quickly, avoiding losses and waste, both in time and resources”, says the engineer. The system is being developed by CIBIogas, in a partnership recently signed with startup from Porto Alegre (RS), called Lab 360. “They are experts in the development of monitoring systems”.

Bioenergy Plant in Toledo

Itaipu Binacional, PTI and CIBiogás recently signed an agreement to implement a Bioenergy Plant in the municipality of Toledo. This Bioenergy Plant aims to centralize the treatment of organic waste, a result of the intense pig farming activity in the region, with the production of biogas.

According to the project's technical manager, William Marenda, this centralization will be in a catchment area, so the project will be specifically located in a rural area that is still being studied. “The Center will treat waste from the area surrounding this plant that will be installed. The project foresees the installation of the plant with the biogas generated, producing electricity.”

The main benefit for rural producers will be the adequate treatment of waste and effluents produced on their property. After the procedures at the plant, most of the organic load will be transformed into biogas, and the remainder will result in biofertilizer, which can be returned to the rural producer. “He will be able to use the biofertilizer as a natural fertilizer for pasture, fields and crops”, he explains.

Planning

William explains that the project is divided into four stages. “We are in the first stage, the studies, then the project development, implementation and operation”.