The Brazilian biofuels sector showed expressive results in 2020. In figures consolidated by the Secretariat of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (SPG) of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), it is possible to perceive the advances in the sector that demonstrates the Brazilian vocation for the renewable energy production.

One example of success is the RenovaBio program, which establishes a market for carbon credits, in which fuel distributors need to acquire decarbonization credits, called CBIOs. In 2020, 14.9 million CBIOs were traded, generating a financial volume of R$ 650 million. Thus, the distributors met approximately 98% of the established target.

The MME balance sheet also shows that Brazil has 638 biogas plants in operation, which produced around 5 million cubic meters per day in 2020. The plants use agro-industrial waste and collect methane from landfills, contributing to the preservation of the environment and in combating global warming.

From 2019 to 2020, biodiesel production grew 8.7% and production capacity 9.4%. The sector also contributes to social inclusion, with 98.4% of the volume traded being from Plants with a Social Biofuel Seal, which requires the inclusion of family farmers in the production chain. Since more than 70% of biodiesel production uses soybean oil, more bran is produced, which is essential for the animal protein industry.

In ethanol, despite the drop in the volume traded due to the pandemic, the sector showed resilience and corn ethanol production grew by more than 84% in 2020.

Brazil currently has three biomethane plants, which produced 330,000 cubic meters in 2020. The plants use industrial waste and collect methane from landfills, contributing to the preservation of the environment and the fight against global warming.