122
R. de Castro Sobrosa Neto et al.
16 Final Considerations
When recapitulating important milestones to the Biogas Project, we are presented
with: In 2000, the law to promote research in the Brazilian electric sector was created
(Law 9,991/2000); in 2008, Eletrosul started the Alto Uruguai Project; in 2011, the
Bonn Conference presented the concept from the WEF nexus. In 2012, Eletrosul
participates, through its research and development area, in a public call for ANEEL
Strategic R&D (number 014/2012). It was denominated “Strategic Project: Technical
and commercial arrangements for inserting the generation of electricity from biogas
from waste and liquid effluents in the Brazilian energy matrix,” launched by ANEEL,
the Biogas Project. Still in 2012, Normative Resolution (REN) No. 482 is elaborated.
It defines what is distributed micro- and mini-generation, establishing guidelines for
network connection and the electric energy compensation system. In this same year,
its first review takes place. In 2015, the second revision of REN 482/2012 takes place.
In 2017, the third revision of REN 482/2012 takes place. In 2018, after six months
of debates and negotiations and with the consent of Aresc, a technical cooperation
agreement is signed between Eletrosul and SC Gas. In January 2019, Eletrosul signs
the contract that authorizes the beginning of the Biogas Project works in Itapiranga
County, in response to the ANEEL R&D 014/2012. In February 2020, Federal Law
No. 13,979 was enacted in Brazil, which “provides for measures to deal with the
public health emergency of international magnitude, resulted from the coronavirus
outbreak in 2019.”
The existence of a law is to promote research and innovation in the Brazilian
electric sector, from which its resource is under the management of companies that
through their areas of research, development and innovation allow projects like this.
It has social, environmental and economic reach, since it presents itself as a source of
resources capable of fostering social innovation. This holds true not only in its place
of implantation, but above all because it becomes a showcase of new concepts on
both: sustainability; and water, energy and food nexus. This project presents itself as
a national and international reference for presenting biodigesters of large and small
sizes, and constructed from different techniques and materials, allowing to evaluate
and identify the best cost-effective solutions to be applied in the treatment of swine
manure, in addition to presenting a business model in which the local creators can
carry out the system operation and maintenance, through the financial gains obtained
with the generated energy, as well as other possible gains with biofertilizers, biochar
and local tourism (fomented by visits to the site, in order to get to know the project).
Thus, the compliance with the objective of the electric sector R&D’s law is
evidenced. Once, this project demonstrated that the environmental, social and
economic variables, of sustainability, are being met. Such is due to the fact that the
waste treatment represented a great environmental gain, as well as a potential path
for financial gains. In addition to these, the Biogas Project presented itself as a great
showcase of concepts, enhancing social development beyond the producers’ gains,
by benefiting the entire community. The project’s implementation (even though it
R. de Castro Sobrosa Neto et al.
16 Final Considerations
When recapitulating important milestones to the Biogas Project, we are presented
with: In 2000, the law to promote research in the Brazilian electric sector was created
(Law 9,991/2000); in 2008, Eletrosul started the Alto Uruguai Project; in 2011, the
Bonn Conference presented the concept from the WEF nexus. In 2012, Eletrosul
participates, through its research and development area, in a public call for ANEEL
Strategic R&D (number 014/2012). It was denominated “Strategic Project: Technical
and commercial arrangements for inserting the generation of electricity from biogas
from waste and liquid effluents in the Brazilian energy matrix,” launched by ANEEL,
the Biogas Project. Still in 2012, Normative Resolution (REN) No. 482 is elaborated.
It defines what is distributed micro- and mini-generation, establishing guidelines for
network connection and the electric energy compensation system. In this same year,
its first review takes place. In 2015, the second revision of REN 482/2012 takes place.
In 2017, the third revision of REN 482/2012 takes place. In 2018, after six months
of debates and negotiations and with the consent of Aresc, a technical cooperation
agreement is signed between Eletrosul and SC Gas. In January 2019, Eletrosul signs
the contract that authorizes the beginning of the Biogas Project works in Itapiranga
County, in response to the ANEEL R&D 014/2012. In February 2020, Federal Law
No. 13,979 was enacted in Brazil, which “provides for measures to deal with the
public health emergency of international magnitude, resulted from the coronavirus
outbreak in 2019.”
The existence of a law is to promote research and innovation in the Brazilian
electric sector, from which its resource is under the management of companies that
through their areas of research, development and innovation allow projects like this.
It has social, environmental and economic reach, since it presents itself as a source of
resources capable of fostering social innovation. This holds true not only in its place
of implantation, but above all because it becomes a showcase of new concepts on
both: sustainability; and water, energy and food nexus. This project presents itself as
a national and international reference for presenting biodigesters of large and small
sizes, and constructed from different techniques and materials, allowing to evaluate
and identify the best cost-effective solutions to be applied in the treatment of swine
manure, in addition to presenting a business model in which the local creators can
carry out the system operation and maintenance, through the financial gains obtained
with the generated energy, as well as other possible gains with biofertilizers, biochar
and local tourism (fomented by visits to the site, in order to get to know the project).
Thus, the compliance with the objective of the electric sector R&D’s law is
evidenced. Once, this project demonstrated that the environmental, social and
economic variables, of sustainability, are being met. Such is due to the fact that the
waste treatment represented a great environmental gain, as well as a potential path
for financial gains. In addition to these, the Biogas Project presented itself as a great
showcase of concepts, enhancing social development beyond the producers’ gains,
by benefiting the entire community. The project’s implementation (even though it