Located in Vargem Bonita, Brazil, the Celulose Irani Project demonstrates how one paper manufacturer is finding economic value in what was once considered waste. The facility uses byproduct biomass from their paper production process to generate sustainable energy for their facility. Irani thus provides a model for biomass projects that reduce both waste and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), promoting sustainable development through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Located in Vargem Bonita, Brazil, the Celulose Irani Project demonstrates how one paper manufacturer is finding economic value in what was once considered waste. The facility uses byproduct biomass from their paper production process to generate sustainable energy for their facility. Irani thus provides a model for biomass projects that reduce both waste and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), promoting sustainable development through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Why biomass?
Biomass is a renewable energy source
which can be cleanly burned to
generate electricity. Brazil has strong
potential to encourage biomass
energy, given that biomass producing
sectors such as agriculture and timber
constitute a significant portion of the
economy. Yet while there is a great
deal of potential in the country, less
than 4% of total energy production in
2003 was derived from biomass.
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One man’s pulp…Celulose Irani is a Brazilian pulp and paper manufacturing company which produces a diverse range of products. From 2000-2003, the company grew significantly, increasing production capacity 77% from 83,000 to 147,000 tons of paper/yr.2 They also anticipated future growth requiring an increase in energy use from 125,353 MWh/yr from 2004-2007 to almost 145,000 MWh/yr from 2008-2024.
Irani has traditionally relied on smallscale on-site biomass and hydroelectric facilities for much of their power. This is logical, since the byproducts from their processes can be used to fuel a biomass plant. However, they have also historically drawn a substantial amount (44%) of energy from the central grid. While Brazil generally relies on fossil-fueled energy for only about 9% of total production, the majority of this is generated in the South-South East portion of the national grid where the Celulose Irani facility is located.
Despite their growth, Irani had no plans to increase its installed power generation capacity. This would have led to increased reliance on the grid, and would have caused significant increases in GHG emissions. Therefore, the construction of additional biomass facilities was vital to ensuring GHG reductions and sustainable energy use for Irani’s future.
…Another man’s powerEcoSecurities partnered with Celulose Irani to generate CERs from the construction and operation of a new 9.43MW biomass generation plant. The plant’s installation led to a reduction in grid energy use of 33,271 MWh/yr from 2004-2007, and is anticipated to generate further reductions of 52,035 MWh/year after 2008. Over the life of the project (2004-2025), the plant is expected to reduce emissions by 626,008 CO2e.
In addition, the plant uses new technology, incorporating a shredder which makes it more efficient and able to utilize a wider range of biomass than the existing facilities. As a result, the plant ensures that 120,000 tons of biomass which would have been landfilled are now averted for use. Since the decomposition of biomass in landfills leads to the release of methane3, the landfill avoidance component of this project is expected to prevent the emission of 3,076,038 tons of CO2e over the life of the project. Total reductions are estimated at 3,702,046 tons CO2e. Irani’s first certified emissions reduction (CER) credits were issued in 2006. As of March 2007, 45,984 CERs have been issued.
Additional Benefits
In addition to supplying the needed energy for production expansion, the Irani biomass project displaced fossilfueled grid electricity, and reduced GHG emissions. However, the project also promotes environmentally sound technology use and information dissemination, and will promote similar activities in the future. The technology used in the generator is also 100% Brazilian, thereby supporting local industry. In addition, the project benefits local people by increasing job opportunities in the area and reducing local smoke pollution.
After the 2001 Brazilian energy crisis, the government set a national target for diversification of energy sources. The Irani project helps to achieve this goal, as well as many of the goals set forth in Agenda 21 and the Sustainable Development Criteria of Brazil. In addition, the project helps Celulose Irani achieve its commitment to environmentally clean and friendly production methods, maximizes the utility of their natural resource inputs, and avoids costs from waste disposal.
Learning from Irani
The Celulose Irani Project provides a strong example of how producers of biomass can make use of a “waste stream†for economic value. This creates solutions for waste disposal, maximizes use of resources, and minimizes the company’s dependence on fossil-fueled grid energy. It also generates meaningful GHG emissions reductions, reflected in the issuance of CERs for this project. By taking a more “cradle-to-cradle†approach production, Irani exemplifies the opportunities that exist through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to profit through sustainable development.
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