Brazil state grants preliminary licenses to 536MW of biomass projects

The Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul has granted preliminary licenses to ten biomass projects in order to increase its renewable energy output.

The Environmental Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul (Imasul) gave the licenses to a total of 535.75MW worth of eucalyptus-based biomass projects.

The 10 schemes, with a combined investement of $734 million (€679m), will be located in the cities of Ribas do Rio Pardo, Aparecida do Taboado, and Sonora.

All projects are scheduled to reach commercial operation by the beginning of 2021.

The preliminary licenses were granted to local companies Guarany Energetica, Eldorado, Florestas do Parana Energia, and Cia Positiva de Energia.

The listed project are set to participate in the energy auction scheduled for early February, as their current licenses only attest to the environmental feasibility of the schemes.

Three projects will be located in Aparecida do Taboado with a combined capacity of 250MW, two in Sonora at 20MW, and the remaining five projects with a combined capacity of 267.75MW will be built in Ribas do Rio Pardo.

Mato Grosso do Sul has a surplus production of about 360,000ha (889,579 acres) of eucalyptus.

Together, the plants will consume 225,000ha, leaving 135,000ha for other projects, according to the State Secretary of Environment and Economic Development, Jaime Elias Verruck.