Brazil's Ceara opens biogas network

April 17 (Renewables Now) -The government of Brazilian Ceara state inaugurated on Monday a biogas network, with initial capacity of 84,000 sq m of biomethane per day.

The biogas will be used to fuel vehicles, industries, commerce and households in the Fortaleza town and its metropolitan region.

This biogas system is a partnership between the town government, Ceara Gas Company (Cegas) and local firm Gas Natural Renovavel Fortaleza. Cegas invested more than BRL 22 million (USD 6.4m/EUR 5.2m) in the system.

The network is the first to distribute the renewable fuel for the final consumer and the second largest in size in the country. It is expected to offset some 610 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

Ceara governor Camilo Santana informed that the sale of this renewable gas will have special treatment with differentiated ICMS tax application, making the product more competitive in relation to natural gas. The government intends to develop other networks in the country side regions as well, Santana said.

According Cegas' president, Hugo Figueiredo, the network will soon be expanded production capacity to 150,000 sq m of biomethane.

(BRL 1 = USD 0.29/EUR 0.24)

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