Over 100 representatives of industry and public institutes participated in a workshop this week at Campinas, Brazil, that was coordinated by professors Telma Franco (UNICAMP) and Luuk van der Wielen (TU Delft). It was part of the Agropolo Campinas-Brasil initiative to build a roadmap aiming to double Sao Paulo State GDP income and half Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
Considerable market
Participants agreed that the potential market for biobased aviation and marine fuels is considerable. To reach the Brazilian contribution to the global aviation (ICAO) target to reduce GHG emissions in 2050 by 50% compared to 2005 levels, 25 Million ton of biokerosene are needed.
In order to reach this huge economic and climate potential, several technical and societal conditions have to be met already in 2030. These include secure feedstock supply, quality control facilities and infrastructural arrangements including pipe lines, but also integral biorefinery concepts.
Green routes
A full socio-economic and sustainability analysis should inform a national strategy on the most effective and sustainable development of the potential. Pedro Scorza (Gol) said ‘at Gol we want to establish green routes (…) to supply our planes at both ends with sustainable biofuels.’ Goncalo Pereira (Granbio) stated that ‘we need to think about sustainable production of jet fuels in regional airports.’
Viable production of biojet fuels can also imply co-production of high value added chemicals, or use of by-products such as lignin for the marine sector. Anton Robek (Bioforever, former DSM) says ‘biomass is the new crude of tomorrow. Investments now can deliver green jobs and economic security for Brazil, while realising environmental targets globally.’
Experts from Embraer and Boeing explained how joint efforts on the development of new advanced biofuels and supply chains potentially can be fulfilled by sustainable feedstocks such as the largest crops in São Paulo state, sugarcane and eucalyptus.
Next steps
The Agropolo Campinas-Brasil initiative bundles the efforts of leading institutions and industries around Campinas for next steps in sustainable economic development. BE-Basic, a Dutch public private partnership in biobased economy joined forces and jointly organised this workshop on advanced biofuels.
For more information, see the website of BE-Basic.
