Project typeBiogas plant
LocationPomerode, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Year of construction2014
Output100 m³ biogas/h
DescriptionIn 2011, the Edelar family, ARCHEA Gruppe (Oliver Nacke) and Ecoconseitos Gruppe began implementing environmentally friendly measures at the Edelar farm.
The starting point was the 30m³ of pig slurry produced daily on the farm. Pig slurry is a major environmental problem in Brazil. In Pomerode, it was stored in open slurry lagoons (see Google Earth aerial image) and seeped into groundwater and surface waters, which are also used to produce drinking water through bank filtration.
Slurry storage at the Pomerode site in 2011
The first step was to build a composting plant, where pig slurry is mixed with sawdust and converted into fertiliser. Evaporation, mixing with sawdust and composting turn it into a stackable material.
Composting plant for producing fertiliser from pig slurry and sawdust
Following completion and successful year-round operation, the existing open slurry lagoon was decommissioned in 2012.
Decommissioning of the slurry lagoon in 2012
Rafael Edeler, the family's son, undertook a three-month internship at ARCHEA in Germany, where he received training in theory, plant construction, laboratory work and servicing. To obtain the licence (permit), the biogas plant's operating company was established and the necessary capital was paid in. The shareholders in the biogas plant are Ecoconseitos S.A., the Prayon family (Hering S.A.) and the newly established Biogaspark do Brasil ltd. Following a year of planning for approval, procurement and in-house manufacture of “all components” of the biogas plant by ARCHEA in Brazil, construction began in October 2013. Construction was personally supervised by Oliver Nacke, shareholder and board member of ARCHEA and Biogaspark Gruppe, and managing director Ercio Kriek from Pomerode. Installation was carried out entirely by newly trained Brazilian employees under Oliver Nacke's leadership. The biogas plant was completed in June 2014.
Pig slurry and plant waste are used to produce 100 m³ of biogas per hour, which is converted into electricity in a combined heat and power unit.
All the digestate is converted into fertiliser in the composting plant and sold in bags to end customers. Methane emissions are prevented, and no contaminated water now leaves the site! At the same time, gas and fertiliser sales, as well as operational management and servicing, form another important part of the group's business. The plant is also used to gain experience with other feedstocks and components.
The plant has since been handed over at a formal ceremony.
The starting point was the 30m³ of pig slurry produced daily on the farm. Pig slurry is a major environmental problem in Brazil. In Pomerode, it was stored in open slurry lagoons (see Google Earth aerial image) and seeped into groundwater and surface waters, which are also used to produce drinking water through bank filtration.
Slurry storage at the Pomerode site in 2011
The first step was to build a composting plant, where pig slurry is mixed with sawdust and converted into fertiliser. Evaporation, mixing with sawdust and composting turn it into a stackable material.
Composting plant for producing fertiliser from pig slurry and sawdust
Following completion and successful year-round operation, the existing open slurry lagoon was decommissioned in 2012.
Decommissioning of the slurry lagoon in 2012
Rafael Edeler, the family's son, undertook a three-month internship at ARCHEA in Germany, where he received training in theory, plant construction, laboratory work and servicing. To obtain the licence (permit), the biogas plant's operating company was established and the necessary capital was paid in. The shareholders in the biogas plant are Ecoconseitos S.A., the Prayon family (Hering S.A.) and the newly established Biogaspark do Brasil ltd. Following a year of planning for approval, procurement and in-house manufacture of “all components” of the biogas plant by ARCHEA in Brazil, construction began in October 2013. Construction was personally supervised by Oliver Nacke, shareholder and board member of ARCHEA and Biogaspark Gruppe, and managing director Ercio Kriek from Pomerode. Installation was carried out entirely by newly trained Brazilian employees under Oliver Nacke's leadership. The biogas plant was completed in June 2014.
Pig slurry and plant waste are used to produce 100 m³ of biogas per hour, which is converted into electricity in a combined heat and power unit.
All the digestate is converted into fertiliser in the composting plant and sold in bags to end customers. Methane emissions are prevented, and no contaminated water now leaves the site! At the same time, gas and fertiliser sales, as well as operational management and servicing, form another important part of the group's business. The plant is also used to gain experience with other feedstocks and components.
The plant has since been handed over at a formal ceremony.