Environmental agreements and the urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
have positioned biogas as a sustainable alternative for bioenergy production.
Biogas is a highly versatile fuel that can be used for heat and electricity
generation, as well as a substitute for fossil fuels. However, its contribution
to the global energy matrix remains limited. This study presents a literature
search aimed at assessing the potential for biogas and bioenergy production in
Latin American countries, with an emphasis on agro-industrial, agricultural, and
urban waste sources. This source was conducted using articles retrieved from the
CAPES Journals Portal. Based on the findings, Brazil stands out due to its
extensive agro-industrial sector, while countries such as Argentina, Colombia,
and Mexico also offer substantial opportunities which biogas could meet a
significant share of regional energy demand. The review showed that sugarcane
residues in Colombia could replace up to 44% of gasoline consumption, whereas in
Cuba, agricultural residues may supply approximately 18% of national electricity
demand. Sanitary landfills in countries such as Ecuador and Mexico demonstrated
the potential to power thousands of households and significantly reduce methane
emissions. Furthermore, biogas production and utilization could prevent the
emission of 38,294 tCO2eq in Colombia. In Mexico, the implementation
of energy recovery systems in landfills could avoid up to 134,688
tCO2eq. The region possesses abundant resources to drive biogas
production, aligning energy generation with sustainability goals. Despite its
potential, several challenges must still be addressed, including investments in
infrastructure, upgrading technologies, and public policies that promote biogas
development. These measures are essential to enable decentralized energy
generation, reduce costs, and mitigate methane emissions.