The French multinational Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has officially started the construction of the world’s largest biogas plant in Bebedouro, São Paulo.
This pioneering project aims to transform citrus waste into sustainable gas, aligning with global sustainability goals and promoting the circular economy.
Characteristics of the world’s largest biogas plant
- Dimensions: The plant covers an area of 200 m² and will initially have the capacity to treat 400 m³/h of citrus effluents, generating over 50 thousand Nm³/day of biogas.
- Innovation: It will use an inoculum developed by LDC that efficiently breaks down orange and lemon residues, surpassing existing market technologies by 16%.
- Environmental Impact: Reduction of over 20% in CO₂ emissions in the Bebedouro operation.
The treatment process for citrus waste at the world’s largest biogas plant will start in a homogenizer tank, then move to anaerobic lagoons, where the inoculum breaks down the organic matter.
The material will be transferred to aerobic lagoons for final filtration. The resulting water, fully treated, will be returned in its entirety to the Paiol River, ensuring that there is no pollution or waste.
Circular economy and sustainability
The produced biogas will replace natural gas in LDC industries, reducing fossil fuel consumption by 50%. Additionally, the generated sludge will be reused as organic fertilizer in the company’s orchards.
In the future, there is the possibility of producing biomethane, increasing its concentration to 96% for commercial applications and vehicle fleets. This project reflects a circular economy model that reduces polluting emissions and optimizes resources.
Institutional support and economic impact
The São Paulo government supports the project, encouraging investments in renewable energies and biofuels. Guilherme Piai, Secretary of Agriculture, highlighted that this plant reaffirms confidence in the Brazilian citrus sector.
São Paulo, responsible for producing seven out of every ten glasses of juice in the world, generated over 45 thousand jobs in the 2023/2024 harvest, demonstrating the positive impact of agribusiness on the regional economy.
Cover photo: Portal Sustentabilidade
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