Brazil oil & gas and marine news highlights from DIT

Market news & Intelligence

According to a global survey carried out by the World Economic Forum, in partnership with the consultancy Accenture, in Brazil, it is estimated that, in the next five years, investments in the solar and wind energy industry can generate more than 1.2 million new jobs, in addition to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by 28 tons. The data were obtained from 25 global utility companies and technology companies focused on the electricity sector. The study shows that, in the coming years, Brazil will be marked by the expansion of non-hydroelectric renewable energies and modernization of the transmission system through "smart” networks and meters, among other technologies.[Estadão – Portuguese Only]

Spanish solar trackers manufacturer STI Norland will supply its equipment for a 78.4-MWp photovoltaic (PV) project in Brazil. The company signed an agreement with the customer, asset management firm Perfin, to send STI-H250 dual-row trackers for the Brigida project. According to STI Norland, the project will represent a Brazilian debut for dual-row trackers.[Renewables Now]

The Brazilian Development Bank has approved R$ 23.4 million (£ 3 million) in loans for the implementation of biogas projects capable of offsetting 154 tonnes of polluting gases annually. Specifically, BNDES will disburse BRL 13.3 million for a 8.7% capacity increase in a biogas vinasse plant located in the state of Goias and owned by local sugarcane company Albioma Codora Energia.[Renewables Now]

Brazil's installed onshore wind power capacity has reached 18 GW, national wind energy association Abeeolica announced. The country now has 695 operational wind parks, according to the association. Brazil will have at least 28 GW of installed wind power capacity by 2024, taking into account only contracts awarded through auctions.[Renewables Now]

Brazilian energy company Focus Energia planning to build a solar power complex in Bahia state for a total cost of R$ 2.2 billion (£ 290,4 million). The PV plants will be part of the Futura project and will be located in the town of Juazeiro. According to Focus Energia's IPO prospectus, the full Futura solar project will include 45 parks divided between Futura 1, Futura 2 and Futura 3/Apia, with a combined capacity of 3 GW. The company has already acquired 22 parks for a total capacity surpassing 671 MW and has an exclusive purchase option for the rest.[Renewables Now]

Voltalia SA has initiated the construction of its 99.4-MW Canudos 1 onshore wind farm in Brazil’s Bahia state. The power plant is part of the Canudos energy cluster, which offers a 1-GW potential, the renewable power plants operator said on Monday. Initially intended to have 90 MW of power generation capacity, the Canudos 1 plant will consist of 28 turbines of the G132-3.55 MW model totalling 99.4 MW.[Renewables Now]

With about 80% of its renewable energy matrix, Brazil is able to become a protagonist in the production and export of green hydrogen. At Siemens Energy, André Clark, general manager of the Brazilian operation, says that the company already negotiates in the country with industries interested in being pioneers in the use of green hydrogen, and should announce "soon” the first pilot projects.[Valor Econômico – Portuguese Only]

The brazilian biogas sector grew by 27% in 2020, and escaped the crisis that affected several sectors of the economy due to the covid-19 pandemic. In all, 69 new plants started operating last year. According to Gabriel Kropsch, vice president of ABiogás (Brazilian Biogas Association), renewable gas is a reality not only in technical terms, but also in relevance. "We are talking about a replacement potential of up to 70% of all diesel oil consumption in Brazil. Biogas also generates savings between 20% and 30%, almost R$ 1 per liter of diesel equivalent ”.[epbr – Portuguese Only]

MME and ECB Group talk about green diesel. The ECB Group, one of the largest producers of biodiesel in Brazil, participated on February 9th in a meeting with the Secretariat of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels, of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (SPG/MME).The meeting dealt with advanced biofuels and the importance of their production for the current energy transition, as well as the need for investments in the ethanol fuel cell. The focus is the benefit that sustainable production and the existing infrastructure for the distribution of biofuels can bring to Brazil.[T&B Petroleum]

National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) proposes resolution establishing guidelines on RD&I in the energy sector. The goal of the resolution is to reinforce the prioritization on RD&I in seven themes: hydrogen, nuclear energy, biofuels, energy storage, technologies for sustainable thermoelectric generation, digital transformation and strategic minerals for the energy sector. Each of the themes has its importance and particularity and are crucial to the development of alternative methods to enable the energy transition process in Brazil towards a low-carbon economy. Based on Brazil's long-term strategy, outlined in the National Energy Plan 2050, it has defended the use of a wide range of solutions combining the advantages of the seven themes highlighted.[T&B Petroleum]

ANP and FGV Energia launch publication on decommissioning. The release of the "Offshore Decommissioning Notebook in Brazil - Opportunities, Challenges & Solutions"happened in the last week of January.The publication brings an in-depth diagnosis of decommissioning activity in Brazil, through the perspectives of different actors, and aims to address opportunities, challenges and solutions, as well as to clarify society about the possibilities of this activity in the country. According to the ANP Director-GeneralRodolfo Saboia"in Brazil, this industry is expected to turn over R$ 28 billion by 2025, between demolition and abandonment of wells, recovery of areas and removal of equipment". Watch the webinar recording of the launch event here. [T&B Petroleum]

UN: Brazil is chosen as leader in debate on energy transition. Brazil was selected as the leading country in one of the central axes of the United Nations High Level Dialogue on Energy initiative. This UN programme was launched with the aim of identifying ways to accelerate progress towards the goal of providing clean, sustainable, reliable and accessible energy for all. Brazil is a leader in renewable energies and has the highest proportion of clean energy in the energy matrix among the major world economies (45% versus a global average of 18%). This is a demonstration of the brazilian efforts to the development of creative solutions for decarbonization, combining the advantages of sustainable bioenergy, hydroelectricity, solar and wind energy, in addition to nuclear energy, together with sources fossils with lower CO2 emissions, such as natural gas.[T&B Petroleum]