Estimativa de créditos de carbono nas Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos (ETE) da Grande Aracaju/Sergipe

Abstract

The significant increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has led to an urgent need for measures to mitigate global warming. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) assists developing countries in reducing their emissions and allows developed countries to meet their goals through the acquisition of carbon credits. One of the opportunities to generate these credits is by reducing GHG emissions at Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), which primarily generate methane through the decomposition of organic waste. In this context, the present study estimated the generation of carbon credits from greenhouse gases emitted at the WWTPs in Greater Aracaju, Sergipe. For these estimates, equations provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were used, revealing significant differences between the scenarios of each plant. These differences were attributed to the served population, the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and the Methane Conversion Factor (MCF) of each treatment system. A substantial potential for Certified Carbon Reductions (CCR) and, consequently, monetization, was observed. With a rate of €78.30/tCO2, it was estimated that approximately R$ 7,657,317.44 per year in carbon credits could be generated, a value that is likely to be even higher in the event of network expansion or improvements in system efficiency.