Scientific Research in Renewable
Energy in Brazil
Marcos Buckeridge
Department of Botany, University of São Paulo
Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory, CTBE,
Campinas
[email protected]
BIOENERGY:
what is it?
…renewable energy made available from
materials derived from biological
sources
Brazil (%)
World (%)
Flavio Fernandes , Edmilson Moutinho dos Santos, Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo e Gás - IBP
The use of bioethanol in Brazil started in the
Northeast at the beginning of the 20th Century
Photography showing one of the tanks for ethanol storage as Usina Serra Grande (Source: Museu Carlos Lyra)
In April 1933, there were ethanol pumps serving cars in several cities in the
Northeast of Brazil: 3 in Recife; 1 in Caruaru, 1 in Garanhuns, 2 in Maceió, 1 in
Serra Grande, 1 in União dos Palmares.
Cars selling of light vehicles in Brazil
(1979-2007)
Corrosion
Optimization of
combustion
Flex engines
Proalcohol
1st generation bioethanol: 1/3 of the
energy in sugarcane plants is in the form of
sucrose
6
Trash: 1/3 of the
energy in sugarcane
plants
The theoretical potential is to TRIPLE
bioethanol production in Brazil, if we can
fully develop the technology for 2nd
generation bioethanol with sucarcane
Bagasse: 1/3 of the
energy in sugarcane
plants
8
Pretreatment
Hydrolysis
Pentoses
ACTIVE BIOENERGY RESEARCH
PROGRAMS IN BRAZIL
CeProBIO
INDUSTRY
SIBRATEC US$ 5 mi
US$ 500 mi
Pilot Plant
CTBE
BNDES-FINEP
US$ 50 mi
CeProBIO
US$ 3mi
US$ 3mi
Centros Paulistas de
Bioenergia
Polo Terra, São Carlos
Labioen, UNICAMP
US$ 10mi
US$ 47mi
US$ 20 mi
TOTAL: US$ 638 mi
WHAT KIND OF SCIENCE DO WE
NEED TO ADVANCE?
STATEGIES TO IMPROVE SUGARCANE ETHANOL SUSTAINABILITY
IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY
- Average today: 40 t/ha
- Goal: 60 t/ha
- There are records of >150 t/ha
- We continue to develop more
productive varieties
- Photosynthesis can be
improved
-MINERAL NUTRITION
-WATER RELATIONS
- PHOTOSYNTHESIS
IMPROVING 1st GEN ETOH
-We can still improve sucrose
in Brazilian varieties.
- Engineering can improve
process efficiency, especially
the fermentation step
- GENETICALLY MODIFIED
PLANTS FOR HIGHER
SUCROSE
- YEAST SYNTHETIC
BIOLOGY
DEVELOPING 2nd GEN
ETOH
-2/3 of the energy in
sugaracne is in the cell walls
- Part of it is used for
bioelectricity
-Biorefinery can be developed
-CELL WALL ARCHITECTURE
-PRETREATMENT
- HYDROLYSIS
-PENTOSE FERMENTATION
IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF COMBUSTION OF ETHANOL IN ENGINES
Using the CO2 produced during the process to empower algae to
make biodiesel could be a great help to decrease CO2 emissions
Brazilian route to obtain 2nd generation
bioethanol – next 3 to 5 years
Choice of sugarcane varieties
4
4
Rotas para o etanol celulósico – Marcos Buckeridge, [email protected]
4
Cane
Bagasse
and straw
cell walls
2
1
pretreatments
Sucrose
Alter enzyme structure
Alter fungyi genome
Enzymes
3
2, 3 e 4
glucose, xylose
and arabinose
1
BIOETHANOL
Sirius: The new Brazilian Synchrotron
Light Source (3rd generation)
Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory
Pilot Plant for Process Development (PPDP)
• Development of technologies for cellulosic
ethanol (estimated raise of 40% in ethanol
production).
• Complex for technological development is
open to external groups.
• Offers “scaling up” to scientific community
• Deep scientific knowledge to overcome
technological challenges pointed out by the
productive sector.
Technological Assessment:
Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery
A tool for:
• Assessment of impacts of new
technologies
on
the
ethanol
production cycle .
• Optimization
of
processes
and
integration of new technologies in
present industry.
• Analysis of priorities for investment
planning.
• Investigation of the use sugarcane
biomass as a carbon source.
Sustainability
• Ethanol sustainability evaluation, considering
present and future technologies.
• Generation of data for public policies.
• Focus on obtaining data in the sugarcane
cycle for a scientific discussion on:
•
•
•
•
•
Energy balance and GHG emissions.
Direct and indirect land use change.
Soil carbon stock change, N2O and CH4 emissions.
Socio-economic impacts.
Impact on the quality and availability of water
resources.
33 labs in 6 states of Brazil
How to find information about
research and researchers working
on reneables in Brazil
http://www.vision.ime.usp.br/~liu/inct1/PB0-0.html
www.inctdobioetanol.com.br
[email protected]
Thank You
Marcos Buckeridge
Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de São Paulo
Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol, CTBE,
Campinas
[email protected]
www.inctdobioetanol.com.br