USTDA Advances Development of Biogas and Solar Power at Brazilian Landfills

(USTDA) SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency provided a grant to Solví Valorização Energética for the development of a suite of landfill energy projects in various states throughout Brazil. The study will develop plans for the generation of onsite power through the harvesting of methane gas at four landfill sites, as well as a solar energy system at a fifth site.

“USTDA is pleased to support Solví’s efforts to expand its renewable energy portfolio through new biogas and solar power projects at its landfills,” said USTDA Regional Director Nathan Younge. “The study will present U.S. companies with an excellent opportunity to introduce new technology solutions for the management of urban waste and the sustainable production of electrical energy across Brazil.”

“Solví looks forward to strengthening its partnership with USTDA,” said Mr. Carlos Bezerra, Director of Solví Valorização Energética. “The study will play an important role in preparing a series of new sites for harvesting methane gas and capturing solar power, and the subsequent production of electrical energy.”

Together, the projects could generate an estimated total 17.2 MW of renewable power, and would prevent the release of methane emissions by approximately 120,000 tons per year of CO2 equivalent. The landfill gas projects will include an assessment of anaerobic bioreactors, gas conditioning and power block design. The solar project would assess the feasibility of a “solar cap” that would cover the landfill and make use of amorphous thin film solar cells, as well as traditional solar photovoltaic technologies.

The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.