Brazil has six waste-to-energy (WTE) projects

Brazil is actively advancing its waste-to-energy (WTE) sector, with six major projects currently under development, collectively offering a capacity of 251 megawatts (MW).  These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to enhance sustainable waste management and diversify the nation’s energy sources.

Key Waste-to-Energy Projects in Brazil

1. URE Barueri (São Paulo)
   • Capacity: 20 MW
   • Waste Processed: Approximately 870 tons/day
   • Highlights: Recognized as Latin America’s first WTE plant, it will divert 300,000 tons of waste annually from landfills, supplying electricity to around 320,000 residents.
2. URE Mauá (São Paulo)
   • Capacity: 80 MW
   • Waste Processed: 3,000 tons/day
   • Status: Holds an environmental permit and is poised to participate in upcoming energy auctions.
   • URE Consimares (Nova Odessa, São Paulo)
3. • Capacity: 20 MW
   • Waste Processed: 700 tons/day
   • Status: Environmental permit granted; eligible for energy auctions. \
4. URE Caju (Rio de Janeiro)
   • Capacity: 31 MW
   • Waste Processed: 1,300 tons/day
   • Status: Environmental permit obtained; set to enter energy auctions.
5. URE Brasília (Federal District)
   • Capacity: Designed to treat approximately 700,000 tons/year
   • Features: Integrates manual and mechanical sorting, biological treatment, and thermal incineration. Currently in the preparatory phase for tendering.
6. URE Baixada Santista (São Paulo)
   • Capacity: 38 MW
   • Waste Processed: 2,000 tons/day
   • Status: Possesses a preliminary license, indicating progress toward implementation.

Additional Developments

Beyond these six projects, Brazil has approximately 15 WTE initiatives in various stages of development. citeturn0search1 The Associação Brasileira de Recuperação Energética de Resíduos (ABREN) estimates that Brazil’s 28 metropolitan regions with populations exceeding one million could collectively generate 18.9 terawatt-hours annually through WTE, representing about 3% of the country’s electricity demand.

These efforts underscore Brazil’s commitment to sustainable waste management and renewable energy, aiming to reduce landfill relianceturn0search2 and greenhouse gas emissions while bolstering energy security.