Carbon offsetting is a fundamental action to help in the decarbonization process of energy matrices. Through this resource, it is possible to reduce the effects of global warming and neutralize CO2 emissions.
The energy transition is already underway in many countries, but a greater effort is needed so that the proposed CO2 emission reduction targets are reached and, consequently, the effects of global warming are reduced.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the level of CO2 emissions has grown exponentially across the world. As a result, countries needed to invest in new energy sources, favoring cleaner and renewable models.
Biogas in Brazil is an energy source that has enormous potential, but not yet explored. It is possible to obtain the gas from several sources, such as biomass, organic solid waste from sanitary landfills and animal waste. According to the Energy Research Company (EPE), currently the main source of biogas production is landfills, with 51%, followed by the beverage and food industries with 25% and swine farming with 14%.
To encourage the production of biogas and biomethane in Brazil, the government launched measures for the sector. The actions are in line with the commitments made by the country at the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) to decarbonize the energy matrix. Currently, Brazil uses only 2% of what it could produce from these fuels. In other words, there is a huge space for development in the area, however, investments and legislation are essential for this growth.
The energy generated from landfills contributes to a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases, in addition to providing a correct and better disposal of organic waste. Landfills are the main resources used by government entities for disposal and treatment of solid waste produced by the population.
What are Brazil's challenges in terms of energy security? The annual consumption of electricity in the country is 555 TWh (Terawatt-hour), with an average growth in the last ten years of 4% per year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Investing in new energy sources and business models is critical for countries that want to move forward in the energy transition. In this sense, Brazil has stood out, seeking new partnerships and solutions to develop the energy generation sector.
In order to decarbonize the energy matrix, many countries create a carbon market with the objective of allowing the purchase and sale of excess credit for emission reductions between companies or between companies and nations. This makes it easier for countries to meet their reduction targets.
In the search for the decarbonization of the energy matrix, biomethane appears as an interesting option, mainly for the transport sector. But, before really understanding the importance of biomethane, it is necessary to understand what biogas is and how these gases are generated.
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