Potential use of landfill biogas in urban bus fleet in the Brazilian states: A review

The biogas is obtained from organic materials in decomposition. Among its components in energy terms, the methane is the most important, in particular for the combustion process in internal combustion engines. This article discusses the potential use of biogas produced from municipal solid wastes (MSW) of sanitary landfills from all Brazilian states to supply the current urban bus transportation fleet with great environmental, economic and social benefits. According to this study, Brazil generates about 16,131,857 N m3/h of biogas, which could supply the actual bus fleet, estimated in 107,000 vehicles. The use of methane derived from sanitary landfills to substitute the mineral diesel guarantees the minimization of environmental impacts providing a significant reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Still from a socioeconomic point of view, the use of the potential energy of the sanitary landfills enables the biogas utilization for the urban transport sector, reducing fuel costs and decreasing the spread of many diseases related to the human respiratory system.