In 2009 an auction is planned to contract energy for power generation projects using wind energy, the first of its kind in Brazil
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WORLD BENCHMARK IN BIOFUELS
From 2009 to 2013 US$ 2.8 billion will be invested in the biofuel segment, with relevant participation in biodiesel and ethanol business.
This amount is an increase of 87% compared with what was previously forecast (US$ 1.5 billion), in the Business Plan 2008-2012. The planned goals intend to obtain, in 2013, the production of 706,000 m3 biodiesel and 1.25 million m3 ethanol. In order to meet the company strategy, the subsidiary Petrobras Biocombustível S.A. was incorporated in July to develop and manage producing projects of these fuels.
Besides addressing part of the growing international demand for energy from renewable sources, biodiesel and ethanol increased the diversification of the energy matrix and further reduced greenhouse gas emissions, since they are less pollutant than fossil fuels. Since July, all diesel sold in Brazil consists of 3% biodiesel, in compliance with the national prevailing legislation. Brazil has 46% of its energy matrix based on renewable energy, while elsewhere in the world this percentage is only 13%.
The performance in biofuels also focuses on the development of technologies for producing energy from residual biomass, such as sugarcane bagasse and husk, rice bran or sawdust. These technologies include bioethanol, ethanol produced by the action of enzymes on the cellulose present in waste and which increase fuel production by 60% in the same planted area.
Another highlight is the HBIO, a process to obtain diesel oil by mixing vegetable oils and diesel oil under certain conditions of temperature, pressure and hydrogenation. A pilot project is also being developed to produce 50 m3 of jet fuel from renewable raw materials (BIOQAV) for tests by December 2009.
An important objective that accompanies the Biodiesel production is the promotion of regional development, especially of the Brazilian semi-arid region, by purchasing raw materials from family agriculture. Petrobras has a network of 55,000 small farmers that supply part of the oilseed feedstock used in its biodiesel plants.
In order to overcome some inherent challenges of the activities in this segment, the company seeks:
- > to give priority to non-food feedstock, to avoid competition with food and affecting food prices;
- > to avoid single cropping, thus benefiting biodiversity and natural resources;
- > to avoid the advance of oilseed crops in areas of biodiversity conservation and sensitive ecosystems;
- > to eliminate unacceptable practices, such as the use of slave or degrading labor in the production of raw materials, etc.
OTHER RENEWABLE RESOURCES
It is part of the Petrobras strategy in the gas and energy segment to invest in power generation from renewable sources. Approximately US$ 669 million will be invested in this area in projects, such as the conclusion of small hydropower plants (SHP) and the participation in new business in electricity, including wind energy plants.
The company plans to consolidate its participation as an agent in the energy market participating in future electricity auctions organized by the Brazilian government. It plans in 2009 to hold an auction for contracting reserve energy specifically for wind energy power generation projects, the first of its kind in the country. The supply is planned to start in 2012, with a contractual term of 20 years.
In operation for five years, the Macau Pilot Wind Energy Plant , in Rio Grande do Norte, is the company’s first wind energy project. It has an installed capacity of 1.8 MW and is capable of avoiding the emission of 1,300 tons of CO2 equivalent per year, by replacing the energy of other more carbon-intensive sources. The plant has already produced more than 24,500 MWh since it started operating, which entailed avoiding emission of approximately 6,000 tons of CO2.
The Macau Wind Energy Plant also resulted in the first activity of the Petrobras project of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), registered in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The works of five SHPs are in the final stage, with a joint capacity of 125.4 MW. By definition, the power from a small hydropower plant will not exceed 30 MW. In Brazil, there is growing participation of SHPs in the energy market, due to regulating incentives and other advantages, such as shorter implementation terms than larger hydropower plants, fewer environmental impacts and the possibility of generating carbon credits.
Solar energy is another renewable resource used by the company, which has 2,180 m2 of solar panels, to avoid the emission of 309 tons of CO2. This energy is used for heating water used in some facilities. In 2009 it is expected that another 4,648 m2 collectors will be installed.
Petrobras also develops several studies concerning the use of hydrogen as a feasible energy option. One of the means of obtaining the fuel is by renewable sources, such as biomass. The gas can be generated from the gasification of the bagasse of sugarcane, for example. This technology is aligned with the commitment of the company to maximize its energy efficiency and develop the use of renewable energy.