Petrobras and Raízen sign an agreement to analyze the feasibility of producing biomethane

Petrobras and Raízen signed an agreement to jointly evaluate potential deals involving the production, purchase and sale of biomethane, a 100% renewable fuel produced by Raízen from sugarcane residues (vinasse and filter cake), generated in the agro-industrial operation of the company’s Energy Bioparks. The partnership also provides for studies for the development of logistics solutions for the delivery of biomethane, which make its use in Petrobras’ refining operations feasible. With characteristics similar to natural gas, the product integrates a new generation of sustainable fuels (such as R5 diesel, with renewable content, and BioQAV), in line with Petrobras’ decarbonization strategy and the development of new business opportunities with less carbon intensity.

“This project is an opportunity to connect the production of renewable biomethane with the production of high quality fuels and refining products that will thus be obtained with lower carbon emissions. The initiative reinforces our commitment to seeking economic and sustainable opportunities that combine value generation and low carbon, offering better quality and environmentally efficient products,” said Petrobras president José Mauro Coelho.

A substitute for natural gas, diesel or LPG, biomethane has the potential to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90% by replacing fossil fuels. For Raízen, the production of biomethane expands the company’s portfolio of renewable solutions, ensuring savings and sustainability for its customers. “We are one of the pioneers in the use of waste from industrial processes to produce renewable energy on a commercial scale, applying the circular economy model in our 35 bioenergy parks. We believe in the potential of sugarcane to generate countless energy solutions and the production of biomethane is an important step towards accelerating the energy transition in the country”, explained Ricardo Mussa, CEO of Raízen.

New decarbonization front

Biomethane is the name given to the renewable fuel produced from the purification of biogas, a process that eliminates the high carbon content of the compound and produces a fuel similar to natural gas. Biogas is produced from residual organic material (vinasse and sugarcane filter cake) from the sugarcane cultivation and processing process.

“It is a 100% renewable source, with the potential to reduce carbon emissions and increase national energy security. Still in the initial phase of studies with Raizen, our objective is to identify the best economic opportunities to develop this new front of decarbonization of our activities”, concluded Coelho.

“Biomethane has a high potential for decarbonization and the possibility of use in the most diverse sectors of the economy. With investments in innovation and technology, we managed to extract the maximum from the biomass of the sugarcane, increasing the sustainable potential of our chain and driving the reduction of CO2 emissions from our partners”, said Mussa.