100
R. de Castro Sobrosa Neto et al.
Of the 10 (ten) biodigesters initially installed in the Alto Uruguai Project, 2 (two)
were deactivated and that is why the pipeline did not contemplate the connection of
these properties, once the producers gave up on the pig farming activity. Another
action taken by Eletrosul in this second phase was to contract the geomembrane
exchange for the 8 (eight) Canadian-type biodigesters, also known as covered lagoon.
This is due to the fact that the initially thought business model should provide a
revenue source for producers through electricity generation from the energy injection
generated in the electricity grid of the local electricity distribution company, Centrais
Elétricas de Santa Catarina S.A. (Celesc, [16]). However, as the Alto Uruguay Project
did not install the generating unit (in this case a MCT), Eletrosul (in conjunction
with the Biogas Project) made it possible to replace these biodigesters geomembranes, which were in use for more than 10 (ten) years, exceeding the manufacturers’ warranty and being unable to continue operating [5, 55]. The Biogas Project
also aims to provide the farmers with a guiding material of the business model which
their association must adhere. The business model must foresee operating and maintenance costs, including the next geomembrane exchanges, as well as performing the
operation and maintenance of MCT and other facilities. In this manner, farmers can
proceed independently, with their own resources, achieving the growth and expansion
of their businesses.
Eletrosul is a federal state-owned company in the Brazilian electrical sector, an
Eletrobras System’s subsidiary, which operates in Mato Grosso do Sul state, as well as
in the three southern states: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná. On January
2, 2020, Eletrosul was incorporated by the company CGTEE, located in Rio Grande
do Sul state and also an Eletrobras System’s subsidiary. From the unification of these
two companies, the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company of Southern
Brazil (CGT Eletrosul) was born. This information is crucial, given that from 2008
until January 2, 2020, the company which led the present R&D project was Eletrosul, and it continues under the management of the new company, CGT Eletrosul.
Having made the clarification about this merging process, throughout this article no
distinction will be made between the companies Eletrosul and CGT Eletrosul, using
the nomenclature Eletrosul to refer to both [18]. This chapter aims to analyze, from
the perspective of the water, energy and food nexus (WEF nexus), how the dimensions of sustainability can be met, providing opportunities for social, economic and
environmental development for the region where the project was developed.
2 The Social Innovation of the Research
Historically, governments have had difficulties in satisfactorily meeting the presented
social demands. This indicates that management models used in the last decades need
to be reassessed. In this sense, several movements seek to minimize the negative
effects of this reality. New solutions need to be devised, in order to overcome the
postmodern society challenges with innovation, and their complex relationships and
interactions [9] (Cloutier 2003; Mulgan et al. 2007; Brunstein et al. 2008; Gregoire
R. de Castro Sobrosa Neto et al.
Of the 10 (ten) biodigesters initially installed in the Alto Uruguai Project, 2 (two)
were deactivated and that is why the pipeline did not contemplate the connection of
these properties, once the producers gave up on the pig farming activity. Another
action taken by Eletrosul in this second phase was to contract the geomembrane
exchange for the 8 (eight) Canadian-type biodigesters, also known as covered lagoon.
This is due to the fact that the initially thought business model should provide a
revenue source for producers through electricity generation from the energy injection
generated in the electricity grid of the local electricity distribution company, Centrais
Elétricas de Santa Catarina S.A. (Celesc, [16]). However, as the Alto Uruguay Project
did not install the generating unit (in this case a MCT), Eletrosul (in conjunction
with the Biogas Project) made it possible to replace these biodigesters geomembranes, which were in use for more than 10 (ten) years, exceeding the manufacturers’ warranty and being unable to continue operating [5, 55]. The Biogas Project
also aims to provide the farmers with a guiding material of the business model which
their association must adhere. The business model must foresee operating and maintenance costs, including the next geomembrane exchanges, as well as performing the
operation and maintenance of MCT and other facilities. In this manner, farmers can
proceed independently, with their own resources, achieving the growth and expansion
of their businesses.
Eletrosul is a federal state-owned company in the Brazilian electrical sector, an
Eletrobras System’s subsidiary, which operates in Mato Grosso do Sul state, as well as
in the three southern states: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná. On January
2, 2020, Eletrosul was incorporated by the company CGTEE, located in Rio Grande
do Sul state and also an Eletrobras System’s subsidiary. From the unification of these
two companies, the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company of Southern
Brazil (CGT Eletrosul) was born. This information is crucial, given that from 2008
until January 2, 2020, the company which led the present R&D project was Eletrosul, and it continues under the management of the new company, CGT Eletrosul.
Having made the clarification about this merging process, throughout this article no
distinction will be made between the companies Eletrosul and CGT Eletrosul, using
the nomenclature Eletrosul to refer to both [18]. This chapter aims to analyze, from
the perspective of the water, energy and food nexus (WEF nexus), how the dimensions of sustainability can be met, providing opportunities for social, economic and
environmental development for the region where the project was developed.
2 The Social Innovation of the Research
Historically, governments have had difficulties in satisfactorily meeting the presented
social demands. This indicates that management models used in the last decades need
to be reassessed. In this sense, several movements seek to minimize the negative
effects of this reality. New solutions need to be devised, in order to overcome the
postmodern society challenges with innovation, and their complex relationships and
interactions [9] (Cloutier 2003; Mulgan et al. 2007; Brunstein et al. 2008; Gregoire