Biomass
Powering a plant with an environmentally friendly source of energy
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Earth Day, every day. To demonstrate our commitment to Earth Day we present stories that illustrate how we work to make a positive difference. For additional information on our environmental activities, read about our Behavior-based Energy Savings, Saving Water in China, Waste to Energy and Carbon Credit Initiative environmental innovations. |
In the fertile agricultural state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, our expanded starches and sweeteners plant in Uberlândia has a new environmentally friendly source of energy: eucalyptus trees. The eucalyptus trees are grown to help power the Uberlândia boiler, grown close to the Uberlândia plant, and grown on reforested fields owned by about 40 small farmers.
Eucalyptus as biomass
Wood chips from the eucalyptus trees are used as biomass. Eucalyptus trees grow quickly – in the Minas Gerais region eucalyptus trees can reach 40 feet in just 30 months – providing an ongoing, environmentally friendly source of biomass. Biomass is a biological, renewable energy source.
Powering the Uberlândia boiler
The planted forest wood chips power the Uberlândia boiler, generating 70 percent of the Uberlândia plant’s power and 100 percent of its steam. This results in a savings of 60,000 tons of fuel oil per year, reducing green house gas emissions while helping local farmers earn income. The eucalyptus trees grow close to the Uberlândia plant, further reducing emissions from extended transportation. The boiler also burns sugar cane bagasse, another renewable energy source.
“We are very pleased not only to celebrate the expansion of this plant, but also for doing so in a sustainable manner, with energy cogeneration and the most advanced industrial techniques for environment treatment,” said Marcelo Martins, president Cargill in Brazil.
At Cargill, we continually search for ways to preserve and protect the environment. In Uberlândia we took the opportunity to generate clean energy by using biomass created from the trees we grow, reducing our environmental impact and using our resources more wisely.
Cargill Brazil
Cargill has operated in Brazil since 1965 and its origins are in the field and in farming activities. We are one of the main food producers In Brazil today and the largest cocoa processor in Latin America. Based in Sao Paulo, we have plants, warehouses, port terminals and branch offices in nearly 180 cities throughout Brazil, providing jobs to nearly 23,000 people. For more information, visit Cargill Brazil.
