Economic evaluation of biogas production with swine waste

Biomass has the potential to become one of the most important renewable energy alternatives in the current scenario. It has an important role to play in climate management and policy today. Integrated bioenergy systems can help secure future energy supplies and provide a diversified energy matrix for both developed and developing countries. To mitigate climate change, bioenergy acts by reducing carbon dioxide and by progressively replacing fossil fuels with sustainable energy in the future. According to the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union has a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 8% of the 1990 level between 2008 and 2012. It is also committed to increasing the share of renewable energies to 12% of gross energy consumption (Malkki and Virtanen, 2003; COM, 1997). In Brazil, based on the Kyoto Protocol, federal and state programs have been created to encourage sustainable food production, reducing the environmental damage caused by such activities.