The director of Biofuels at the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Pietro Mendes (photo), spoke at the 10th Annual LCFS and Carbon Markets Workshop, in San Francisco, California (USA). The director presented the advances made by Brazil in the decarbonization policies of the transport sector with RenovaBio, the Fuel of the Future Program and the National Hydrogen Program, which are contained in the Guidelines for a National Strategy for Climate Neutrality submitted by the country at COP 26.

Brazil has a relevant global role in the biofuels industry, being currently the second largest producer and consumer in the world and the fourth largest fuel market in the world. According to data from the Decennial Energy Plan (PDE), ethanol production should reach 47 billion liters and biodiesel 11.5 billion liters in 2031.

In the case of RenovaBio, until November 2021, 32 million CBIOs were made available, 26 million sold and there is a perspective that the market will move up to 1 billion reais this year. The program is in its second operational year and already shows the success of public policy, having exceeded the target established by the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) of 24.86 million CBIOs.

The Fuel of the Future Program has six active subcommittees and works to propose integration measures between different public policies: RenovaBio, National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel, Vehicle Emission Control Program (Proconve), Route 2030 and the Brazilian Labeling Program Vehicle.

Specifications for high-octane, low-carbon Otto cycle fuels are being developed. In addition, proposals are studied for the production of second-generation ethanol and fuel cells, elaboration of the legal framework for the capture and storage of CO2 (CCS) and for the production of Sustainable Aviation Kerosene (SAF).

In the National Hydrogen Program, public policy guidelines were established and projects for the production of green hydrogen in the country have been announced. The set of these initiatives shows that Brazil is working in an active and coordinated manner to promote the decarbonization of the transport sector.