Comgás has received approval from Arsesp to offer biomethane to captive consumers in São Paulo, boosting industrial decarbonization with a project capable of reaching 50,000 m³ daily.
The energy transition in Brazil’s gas distribution sector has just entered a decisive chapter. Comgás has received authorization from the São Paulo State Public Services Regulatory Agency (Arsesp) to integrate biomethane into its offering portfolio in the regulated market. This initiative, dubbed “Mercado Cativo Verde” (Green Captive Market), marks a strategic move to broaden access to renewable sources.
The pilot project begins with a daily volume of 2,600 m³, but its scaling potential is significant. The company’s goal is to reach 50,000 m³ per day, a volume contingent on the evolution of consumer demand and supply stability, in addition to maintaining a favorable regulatory environment.
How the “Mercado Cativo Verde” Works
The solution was designed to serve strategic sectors such as industry, refrigeration systems, cogeneration plants, and the mobility segment, including heavy fleets and CNG fueling stations. Since the physical distribution infrastructure is shared between fossil natural gas and biomethane, the operation utilizes a mass balance system. The key differentiator is the environmental attribute linked to the renewable molecule.
To ensure full transparency and prevent the double counting of environmental benefits, Comgás has implemented a rigorous control system. The process includes independent external auditing and cutting-edge traceability mechanisms, ensuring that customers receive certification of the contracted input’s green origin.
The contracting of biomethane by distributors is a voluntary initiative, structured so that the cost of the molecule is fully passed on to the final consumer, without any operational margins for the concessionaire.
Regulatory Context and Outlook
It is important to highlight that this move by Comgás is independent of the obligations imposed by the Future Fuel Law (Lei nº 14.993/2024). While current legislation focuses decarbonization responsibility on producers and importers, the São Paulo-based distributor opts to create a direct channel for companies eager to reduce their carbon footprint to access renewable fuel more quickly.
The expectation for the coming months is that the model will serve as a barometer for the viability of biogas in São Paulo’s energy matrix. With the corporate market increasingly focused on ESG goals, the offering of gas with sustainable attributes consolidates the role of distributors as facilitators of the transition to a low-carbon economy, utilizing existing infrastructure to enable a cleaner energy future.
