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New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Big in biofuels: a Brazil success story
13/12/2023
8 min read
Feature
Brazil is a global pioneer in the production and utilisation of a range of biofuels, including ethanol produced largely from the country’s sugar cane sector. Powerful government mandates and a preference for flex-fuel vehicles sustain biofuels’ prominence. New Energy World Features Editor Brian Davis reports.
Brazil is the second largest biofuels producer in the world, following the US. Biofuels accounted for 22% of its transport energy in 2022 and production is set to reach 32.95bn litres in 2023, 7% more than the previous year, due to a steady increase in sugarcane and corn ethanol production.
Brazil is also the third largest biodiesel producer, following Indonesia and the US. Brazilian biodiesel production is more heavily regulated than bioethanol and imports are not permitted. Total biodiesel production is forecast to reach 7.1bn litres in 2023, a 5% increase on 2022, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS).
As well as being a global pioneer in biofuels, the country combines a successful formula of biofuels mandates, financial incentives and sustainability requirements to ensure secure and affordable biofuels supplies.