Brazil has tradition and a significant potential on biomass production. The historical importance of biomass energy in Brazil is due to a set of factors, including (i) the size of the country and the availability of land, (ii) the adequacy of its weather, (iii) the availability and the low cost of the working force and, most important, (iv) the domain of biomass-production and biomass-conversion technologies in the agricultural and in the industrial sectors. The accomplishment of these conditions defines a potential biomass producer country in a bioenergy trade scenario.
The Brazilian experience in biofuels production indicates that it is possible to produce such fuels in a sustainable way and at a low cost. Taking into account the steady reduction of production cost, as happened in the case of Brazilian ethanol, biofuels could be commercialised worldwide, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions with low economic impacts. The Brazilian experience can also be transferred to other developing countries, enabling them to enhance their energy supply with locally produced fuels. In medium-term, some countries could become biofuels exporters, indeed.
This report describes the Brazilian experience on large-scale production of ethanol and of wood from planted forests (including for charcoal production). Brazilian experiences and perspectives on international biotrade are also addressed.

By: State University of Campinas – Unicamp, Brazil

download this document:    273 kb