In yet another day of face-to-face events, the 28th Fenasucro & Agrocana addressed yesterday (17), how the bioenergy market has been updated over the decades, but there are still challenges to be solved to support the sector. The subject was the central theme of the CEISE Br./UNICA Seminar, which discussed 35 years of bioelectricity in Brazil.

Newton Duarte, president of the Energy Cogeneration Industry Association -- COGEN, explained that over the years, the country has improved its capacity to generate electricity through sugarcane by-products, but it still faces an old challenge: the to operate freely in the market.

"It is inexorable that we have a new market in the coming years, with modernization and versatility, but for that we need laws that guarantee the free market. The government limits the sale of bioenergy, but appropriates the generation of profit, failing to pass it on to suppliers , which are prevented from selling on the free market", said Duarte.

According to him, this is a misappropriation, since production above the limit set by the Ministry of Mines and Energy cannot be freely negotiated by biomass plants.

The thinking is also shared by the commercial manager of Energy BP Bunge Bioenergia, José Pineiro, who reinforces the need for market opening, without government intervention. "This discussion must be accompanied by the valuation of the products that will be traded in an increasingly free market. We want to play on equal terms with all sectors. And even with all the limitations, we continue to advance".

According to data from the Energy Research Company (EPE), Brazil has great potential in generating energy from renewable sources. By 2031, biogas production is expected to reach 7.1 billion Nmᶟ. And for biomethane, 3.8 billion Nmᶟ.

This is the forecast for a market that processes sugarcane and produces by-products, that is, there is an abundant raw material that can even supply the external need, as pointed out by Samuel Custódio, commercial manager of electric energy at Tereos - Açúcar & Energia Brazil. "We can be energy and fuel providers for other countries."

He also mentions Tereos' plan, by 2030, to have 100% of the truck fleet running exclusively on biomethane, thus eliminating dependence on diesel. "Brazil is already experiencing a deficit of diesel, so imagine supplying that with a national source that is renewable? The producer market needs guarantees to develop and access new markets", he reported.

Green hydrogen is a promise

Also this Wednesday (17) the International Bioenergy Fair received authorities, who highlighted the potential of bioelectricity, green hydrogen and also the sustainability generated by the sector.

Former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil, Marcos Pontes, praised Brazil's renewable energy potential, which is 74%, compared to other countries (26%). "This does not leave us at ease, as we still need to invest a lot in the development of technologies, also working in the entire production chain. Sustainability is needed in every circuit", he declared.

He also said that green hydrogen is the big bet for the future. And that, for this, there must first be a transition from fossil fuel to the use of biofuels with electricity. "We have the technology for this transformation and Brazil has what it takes to be very successful as one of the biggest producers of green hydrogen," he said.

The president of the Parliamentary Front for the Sugar-Energy Sector, Arnaldo Jardim, pointed to Fenasucro in the important context of the sector's recovery and, also, the challenges. "That's because in the energy auctions we have had difficulties and competitiveness. We established a new standard for DG [Distributed Generation] and we hope that this gives a balance of dispute. But we really want to guarantee competitiveness to what comes from energy from biomass", he said. . "On biogas, we saw that sugarcane became the cane of ethanol, bioelectricity and, now, the new frontier: biomethane and biogas. Together with UNICA and Cogen, we managed to formulate a project that establishes the regulatory framework for biogas. It is a joy to see that our companies are preparing for this new reality. We want to make great progress in this sector", he added.

The mayor of Ribeirão Preto, Duarte Nogueira, also highlighted the 35 years of advances in bioelectricity and the sector as a whole, which promoted profound transformations in the Brazilian and São Paulo energy matrix. "The whole world breathes and exudes sustainability issues. Companies are already incorporating sustainability and the ESG agenda, in search of good practices. We need this to survive and live with quality", he concluded.
 

Thursday's schedule

This Thursday, 08/18, Fenasucro & Agrocana promotes a seminar on sugarcane milling processes, with concepts, industrial capacity and expansion of knowledge in the production chain. On this day, at 2 pm, there is a lecture on electricity generation as an opportunity for new businesses and markets.

Until Friday, 08/19, the fair's schedule will complete more than 36 hours of events with exclusive content, with 100% in-person activities.