Major Thermoelectric Biomass Plant begins Production in Sertãozinho

Sertãozinho, Brazil. Companhia Energética Santa Elisa (CESE) began production at its thermoelectric power plant in May 2003. This facility is one of the highest steam pressure biomass power plants in the world. The thermoelectric plant is producing 60MW power, utilizing biomass (bagasse – crushed sugar cane) as fuel.

Brazilian technology was utilized in the complete development of the thermoelectric plant. The facility was developed by a group of nine companies, five of which were from the Sertãozinho region. Smar was responsible for complete project automation including: level control, desairation tanks pressure control, interlocking and security systems as well as three element boiler control, combustion and gas exhaustion from the boiler, belt feed control, and recirculation of the bagasse.

At the plant’s opening, Brazil’s President Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that the Brazilian government will support the sector and recuperate the alcohol production in the country. “In a short time the developed countries, for ecological reasons, will need to produce and buy alcohol to mix in the gas and therefore we can participate in this part of the global market with our production capacity and technology”, said the President.

Monthly, this new biomass power generation unit will be capable of supplying energy for up to 500,000 city inhabitants. Total investments in this facility exceeds $20m, 70% of which was financed by the Brazilian National Bank (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social).

The total energy generated will result in 30MW for use by Santa Elisa Co. in its own processes, while an additional 30MW will be sold to CPFL (Energy company from São Paulo state). In order to generate this amount of energy, CESE will process 25 thousand tons of sugar cane, resulting in 1.3 million liters of alcohol, 40,000 bags of refined sugar (50 kilos each), and 7,000 tons of bagasse.