ESTIMATE OF THE POTENTIAL GENERATION OF BIOMASS, METHANE AND ENERGY BY MAJOR ANIMAL BREEDING OF BRAZIL

Abstract

Brazil’s participation on the international trade of animal protein grows every year, and inevitably, leads to worsening environmental problems. Due to that, the objective of this study was to quantify the manure generated by the livestock population (broilers, layers, swine and dairy cattle), methane production, energy potential and electric power from this biomass in the years 2008-2012. Data containing actual livestock population was obtained from Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics – IBGE. A methodology that considers the initial and final weight of the animal, as well as residence time, was developed to estimate waste generation. Methane production, energy potential and electric power were calculated based on bibliographic references. Methane production and potential energy produced were calculated based on bibliographic references. Results show an increase in animal production in the years analyzed, and consequently an increase in the generation of waste, methane, energy potential and electric power. The estimates indicate that the electric power produced, for example, would be enough to supply about 10% of the Brazilian residential demand of 2011. The results were quite significant, however, studies with a regionalized focus, for the implementation of individual or collective systems, should be encouraged.

Key-words: animal livestock, livestock waste, biodigestion, energy from biomass.