São João Biogás — Brazil
Waste power plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Approximate location -23.6349, -46.4153.
WasteSao PauloBrazil
São João Biogás is a 21.6 MW waste power plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is operated by São João Energia Ambiental SA. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 30k homes (estimated). It ranks #1012 of 2,572 Brazil power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2008, it is around 18 years old — relatively modern. In context, the national grid averages 110 gCO₂/kWh (88.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id BRA0028648.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 21.6 MW, São João Biogás is well above the median waste plant in Brazil (4.62 MW). Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal solid waste to generate electricity and heat, cutting landfill volume while recovering energy from residual waste.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Brazil waste capacity
- 20.1% of 108 MW across 12 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 11 dated waste plants in Brazil are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest waste plants in Brazil
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by São João Energia Ambiental SA.
Local climate & thermal context
This waste plant recovers energy by combusting municipal or industrial waste. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 23.6°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 82% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 20/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #2 largest waste power plant of 12 in Brazil by capacity.
Brazil has 12 waste power plants in this dataset, together about 108 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Cabot Mauá · Oil · 7 MW · Sao Paulo
- Sistema de Cogeração da RECAP · Oil · 22.5 MW · Sao Paulo
- Pirelli Santo André · Oil · 3.15 MW · Sao Paulo
- Capuava · Oil · 18 MW · Sao Paulo
- PQU · Gas · 8.8 MW · Sao Paulo
- Hospital Santa Helena · Oil · 1.02 MW · Sao Paulo
Location
Coordinates -23.6349, -46.4153 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is São João Biogás?
São João Biogás is a 21.6 MW waste power plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, commissioned in 2008.
Who operates São João Biogás?
São João Biogás is operated by São João Energia Ambiental SA.