Avaliação do potencial de aproveitamento térmico do metano a partir de dejetos suínos na microbacia hidrográfica do Rio Marreco, oeste do Paraná

Abstract

The production of animal protein is an activity that has been highlighted in the western region of Paraná state. The challenge is to manage this system from an environmental view, since this activity produces significant quantities of waste with high pollution load. On the other hand, this material has great potential for power generation, because, if properly treated produces methane. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of replacing conventional sources of energy by methane generated by swine in the Rio Marreco hydrographic basin. The squad installed in the watershed is 95,129, divided into 121 farms, with 116 UCT and 5 UPL systems, with a production of approximately 12,905 m³/day. The development of the bioenergy project considered the replacement of the wood used as a source of thermal energy in the frigorific of Sadia S.A. located in Toledo/PR, where the monthly consumption of 2,820,000 kilograms of wood chips can be replaced by methane at 54.7%. Measured properties presented good economic indicators of the point of the investment by the energy producers, which varied according to the breeding animal. The project implementation from the perspective of the consumer of energy also showed positive viability by NPV and IRR indicators, with the balance of R$ 1,749,180 saved annually. The results showed that there are viable possibilities for the use of methane generated by swine manure and how this material is managed, considering an entire watershed or just part of it as a planning unit, influences the total volume of methane produced and, thus, the identification of potential consumers.