CEBDS and the Brazilian Biogas and Biomethane Association (ABiogás) have partnered to discuss and encourage the use of biofuels in Brazil. This partnership comes at a crucial time, as Brazil needs to prepare to achieve the goals it set under the Paris Agreement. These include the commitment to have 23% of its energy matrix from non-hydro renewable sources by 2030 and to increase the share of sustainable bioenergy to 18%.
The initiative came from CEBDS, which leads the South American hub of below50, a global collaboration aimed at developing the sustainable fuels market.
According to data from ABiogás, Brazil has the potential to generate approximately 52 billion cubic meters of biogas per year, equivalent to 115,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity from urban waste, livestock, and agribusiness. This volume is equivalent to the production of almost one and a half Itaipu dams and could generate 25% of all the electricity consumed in 2016.
“The partnership with ABiogás brings a new perspective to below50 – a South American hub, which now considers not only liquid biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, but also biogas and biomethane. "We need to consider all alternatives to accelerate the development of a low-carbon economy," stated CEBDS president Marina Grossi.
For ABiogás Vice President Gabriel Kropsch, the partnership will bring even more strength and support to the debate on the viability of biofuels in Brazil. "We are very pleased to have as partners CEBDS, one of the most serious sustainable development entities and committed to the development of biofuels and to meeting the decarbonization goals of the Brazilian economy," he said.
below50
O below50 is a global collaboration that aims to drive the development of the global and national market for sustainable fuels. The project seeks to create demand for fuels that, like ethanol and biodiesel, emit 50% less CO2 than traditional fuels.
Created by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the below50 responds to the challenges highlighted by the initiative Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi). The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) is responsible for leading the below50 in South America, giving rise to the below50 – South America hub, which seeks to adapt the global project to the context of the region.
Currently, in addition to Abiogás, the team of partners includes below50 – South America hub, the Brazilian Association of Industrial Biotechnology (ABBI), Sugarcane Industry Union (Unica) It is Brazilian Union of Biodiesel and Biokerosene (UbraBio).
