Brazil’s largest state-owned energy company made another play today to become a world leader in biofuels. Petrobras announced a $1.23 billion deal with Tereos International’s Brazilian Branch, Acucar Guarani, to supply up to 2.2 billion litres of sugarcane ethanol to Petrobras’ fuel distribution subsidiary, BR, over the next four years. Petrobras said in a statement today, “The contract ensures commitment …
Weather Impacts Brazil Sugarcane Harvest
Brazil’s sugarcane growing areas went from too little rain earlier this season to too much rain in September, putting a damper on harvest activity, according to the latest report from from the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA). Heavy rains, nearly 60 percent higher than average for the month, hampered cane crushing for second consecutive two-week period, but reportedly favored ethanol …
Petrobras and Novozymes Partner for Cellulosic Ethanol
Brazil’s Petrobras and international enzyme development company Novozymes are working together to develop a new route to produce second generation biofuel from sugarcane bagasse. According to a company release, the agreement covers the development of enzymes and production processes to produce second generation lignocellulosic ethanol from bagasse in an enzymatic process. The commercial potential of cellulosic ethanol in Brazil is …
Brazil to Generate Electricity From Ethanol
According to the Associated Press, General Electric has announced that it has received a contract from Brazil state-owned energy company Petrobras to convert a second gas turbine to burn sugarcane-based ethanol. The turbine is at a power plant serving the city of Juiz de Fora, northwest of Rio de Janeiro. Back in January, Petrobras’ plant became the first in the …
Brazil Sugarcane Ethanol Update
This year’s Brazilian sugarcane crush figures are being revised downward, but still are higher than last year at the moment. Meanwhile, ethanol production is up from last year but exports are down significantly. That’s according to the latest report from the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA). The new forecast projects that crushing will reach 570.191 million tons, 3.70% less than …
Shell & Cosan Partner on $12 Billon Ethanol Project
Brazil-based Cosan S.A. has announced a partnership with Shell to form a $12 billion joint venture for the production and commercialization of ethanol and power from sugarcane. According to company sources, the venture, which must receive regulatory approval, would create the 3rd largest ethanol producer in the world, manufacturing 440 million gallons of ethanol per year, and result in more …
KL Energy & Petrobras Partner on Bagasse Project
KL Energy Corporation and Brazil-based Petrobras have announced a new joint development agreement to optimize KL Energy’s cellulosic ethanol process technology for the conversion of sugarcane bagasse feedstock to ethanol. As a component of this partnership, Petrobras will invest $11 million to adapt KL Energy’s demonstration facility to use bagasse. The money will also be dedicated to validating the company’s …
Novozymes Acquires Brazilian Ag Company Turfal
Novozymes has announced that is has acquired Brazilian microorganism company Turfal in order to obtain direct access to the Brazilian bioagriculture market. Turfal develops and manufacturers microbes that stimulate the growth of crops, such as soybeans, by fixating nitrogen. These microbes allow growers to use less fertilizer and save money. Turfal’s operations are located 25 miles from Novozymes’ Latin American …
Cane and Corn Ethanol Updates
The sugarcane harvest in Brazil is running ahead of schedule and the U.S. corn crop is progressing well, according to the latest reports. The cane crush in Brazil so far this year is running about 20 percent ahead of last year, which is not necessarily good news according to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association’s (UNICA). Technical Director Antonio de Padua …
Brazil Aids Kenya with Sugarcane Ethanol Development
In past posts, I’ve written (or re-published) about how countries like Brazil are taking a leadership role in global biofuels development. I came across an article recently in the Business Daily that discusses how Brazilian biofuels experts are working with Kenya to boost their biofuels development. While there are still global concerns about biofuels relationship to food, especially food security, …