PlanET Biogás Brasil participated for the first time as an exhibitor at the 24th DATAGRO International Conference on Sugar and Ethanol, which took place on October 21 and 22, 2024, in São Paulo. The event brought together leaders of the national sugar and ethanol industry.
In addition to presenting its solutions on the stand, PlanET organized the panel “Biomethane: the green revolution in the sugar and ethanol industry’s fuel market”, with the participation of Felipe S. Marques (CIBiogás) and Nicola Del Duca (PlanET Biogastechnik GmbH), as well as the Brazilian technical team.
Nicola Del Duca, Chief Operating Officer of the Biogás group, not only took part in the panel, but also reinforced PlanET’s commitment to effective solutions for the sector: “Our focus is on providing integrated, proven solutions with medium- and long-term results. With 25 years’ experience on three continents, we operate more than 370 plants, including 150 biomethane plants, ensuring the effectiveness of our solutions.”
The conference was a space for sharing information, networking and debating issues that impact the production, marketing and consumption of products such as sugar, ethanol and others.
According to figures released by the National Supply Company (CONAB), Brazil is the world’s largest producer of sugar cane. In the 2023/2024 harvest, production is estimated at 646 million tons. In addition, the country is one of the world’s leading ethanol producers, with production of around 30 billion liters in 2023, making it one of the largest sources of sugarcane ethanol for domestic consumption and export, according to data from CONAB and the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).
According to the Panorama of Biomethane in the Sugar-Energy Sector 2023, published by the Energy Research Company (EPE) in partnership with CIBiogás, the country has around 360 sugar and ethanol production plants and 21 corn ethanol units, located in the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast regions, with most of the corn units in Mato Grosso.
The sugar-energy industry generates waste such as vinasse, sugarcane bagasse and filter cake, examples of substrates that can be used in energy routes, including the production of second-generation ethanol (E2G) and biomethane.
In the sugar-energy sector, biomethane stands out for its growth potential over the next few years. In 10 years, it is estimated that biomethane production could grow by more than 20%, reaching 6.1 billion Nm³, with a total of 11.2 billion Nm³ of biogas. For financially stable plants, the production potential in 2033 is estimated at 3.1 billion Nm³ of biomethane. This scenario of biogas expansion in the sector contributes to strengthening the biomethane market in Brazil as a sustainable energy alternative.
The sugar-energy industry also generates by-products such as vinasse, sugarcane bagasse and filter cake, which are examples of materials that can be used in energy processes, including the production of second-generation ethanol (E2G) and biomethane.
Brazil is experiencing an important historic moment with the approval of the Fuel for the Future Law (Law No. 14.301/2022). This law establishes guidelines for the development and use of sustainable and renewable fuels in the country, with a special focus on biofuels such as second generation ethanol (E2G) and biomethane. This is an important milestone for the sugar-alcohol sector.
The executive director of PlanET Biogás Brasil, Luciane Fornari, celebrates the moment the sector is experiencing. “In the case of the Fuel for the Future Law, unlike other regulations that can bring market challenges, it was designed for the future, for the maintenance of life and the environment. It’s a huge opportunity to do the right thing from an environmental point of view and, at the same time, boost the national economy across the board, with legal certainty, attracting investment and positively impacting Brazil in various sectors,” he says.
Fornari also talks about the importance of having taken part in the 24th DATAGRO International Conference. “Taking part in this event for the first time was gratifying. We from PlanET Biogás Brasil were able to gain an insight into the global sugar and ethanol scenario. In addition, we exchanged insights on the future prospects for the bioenergy sector.”
The company’s participation in the conference also reinforced its commitment to climate preservation and to solutions that transform environmental liabilities into energy resources.
About PlanET Biogas Group
With more than 350 employees, the German company, which has been developing cutting-edge technology for biogas and biomethane production for 25 years, has had a Brazilian subsidiary since 2022, focusing on the agricultural and industrial sectors in the domestic market. With facilities in Florianópolis (SC), PlanET Biogas solutions help to reduce CO2 emissions, contributing to the diversification of the world’s energy matrix.
With more than 870 biogas plants and more than 150 biomethane plants, PlanET Biogas Group is one of the market leaders in the sector. Thanks to our established structures and the close network of our subsidiaries on four continents.
