Turning into energy, 31 thousand tons of rice husk were no longer discarded in 2021

Throughout the year, Fumacense Alimentos' own thermoelectric plant was responsible for generating energy for the cereal industry's headquarters unit, located in Morro da Fumaça (SC). With the end of 2021 and the balance of the structure's final numbers over the last twelve months, it was observed that a significant number of rice husks were no longer discarded in the environment and were reused for the operation of the equipment and, consequently, from the company.

Surpassing numbers recorded in 2020, last year the thermoelectric plant transformed more than 31 thousand tons of grain husk into electrical energy, generating 6.720Mw/h. But what does this amount mean? According to the coordinator of the Fumacense Alimentos Thermoelectric Power Station, Lucas Tezza, in a comparison, this same quantity would be enough to supply more than five thousand homes with up to three people for a year.

“The company has always had this sustainable bias, which has been strengthened and expanded over the last few years. And in addition to reusing the rice husk, the ash generated in the burning process at our thermoelectric plant is also sent to ceramic, steel and cement companies in Santa Catarina, São Paulo and Minas Gerais, which reuse the residue in their production processes”, highlights Tezza.

From the ashes, new bricks

Last year, the burning of rice husks generated 6.130 tons of ash. Of this number, more than half – 3.700 tons – became raw material for the composition and manufacture of bricks.

The initiative, originating from a pilot project in the south of Santa Catarina, brought together the rice and ceramics industries and has recorded very positive results for both sectors, as well as directly contributing to the reduction of impacts on the environment.

“This partnership has been going on for almost two years and was initiated by an objective that Fumacense Alimentos had, to also reuse the ashes that remained as waste, to avoid the disposal of these materials as much as possible. This ash contains a large amount of silica, which contributes considerably to the product's results. Together with the clay, 15% of the residue is used in the mixture, leaving the bricks lighter and with the same resistance”, says the coordinator of the Thermoelectric Power Station.

About Fumacense Alimentos

National reference in the production of rice and products made from this cereal, Fumacense Alimentos it has the brands Kiarroz, RisoVita and Kifeijão, in addition to Campeiro, Vilarroz and the Boby line, the latter aimed at animal feeding. Founded in 1970, its headquarters are located in Morro da Fumaça, in the south of Santa Catarina. The company also has two other production plants, one in Alegrete/RS and the other in Pombos/PE.

Together with JS Empreendimentos, Criciúma Shopping and Mark At Place, Fumacense Alimentos is part of the EZOS economic group, launched in October 2020 with an innovative management system, due to the creation of the first Shared Services Center in the south of Santa Catarina.