A GERAÇÃO DE ENERGIAS RENOVÁVEIS EM ATERROS SANITÁRIOS: BIOGÁS E SOLAR FOTOVOLTAICA

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the major environmental challenges we face today due to its negative impacts on soil, water, and air. The enactment of Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy (Law No. 12.305/2010) has promoted the adoption of landfills as the most suitable form of waste disposal while also encouraging sustainable solutions that foster waste recovery. This study aims to analyze the potential for electricity generation in sanitary landfills through the recovery of biogas from waste decomposition and the installation of photovoltaic solar systems in closed landfills, with emphasis on the technical, environmental, legal, and socioeconomic aspects involved. The research was conducted through an exploratory literature review based on national and international sources. The results show that biogas use is already implemented in some Brazilian municipalities, demonstrating technical feasibility, environmental benefits, and potential for integration into the national energy matrix, although still underutilized. The application of photovoltaic systems in closed landfills, while less common in the country, emerges as a promising alternative for repurposing restricted-use areas. Both technologies offer advantages such as clean energy generation, waste valorization, and support for distributed generation, but also face challenges including high initial costs, regulatory requirements, and technical limitations. The integration of these sources into hybrid systems may improve generation stability and promote more rational land use. It is concluded that, whether applied separately or in combination, these solutions contribute to more efficient landfill management and strengthen the sustainability of Brazil’s energy matrix.