Green Energy

Biogas-to-SAF: Copersucar, Geo bio gas&carbon collaborate for Brazilian market

Brazilian sugar & ethanol major Copersucar and biofuels company Geo bio gas&carbon have announced the signing of an MoU with the aim of developing technology for converting biogas into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Combining Copersucar’s scale in the sugarcane-energy sector with Geo’s expertise in biogas/biomethane production technology, the agreement intends to enable large-scale SAF production in Brazil in the coming years, utilizing a new production route alongside ethanol (known as alcohol-to-jet – ATJ).

As part of the partnership, the companies will build a commercial pilot plant expected to begin operation in 2025. The SAF production project from biogas/biomethane will employ the gas-to-liquid (GTL) route using Fischer-Tropsch technology, a chemical process for producing green liquid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas.

“The SAF produced from biogas/biomethane is a high-value product with a low carbon footprint, further expanding the use of sugarcane as a renewable energy source. This partnership could represent a new growth avenue for the Copersucar ecosystem, aligned with our strategy to provide scalable solutions for energy transition,” commented Tomás Manzano, Copersucar’s CEO.

Alessandro Gardemann, CEO of Geo, emphasized that “biogas production routes from organic waste are crucial to positioning Brazil as a producer and exporter of advanced fuels with added value. This makes the country competitive in decarbonizing both the Brazilian air transport matrix and demanding international markets such as Europe. Our plant will be born with the foundations ready to rapidly elevate production to an industrial scale level.”

A recent report indicates that sustainable aviation fuel mandates in Brazil have drawn investors to the local market. The lower house of Brazil’s National Congress recently approved the “Fuels of the Future” Bill, which sets higher blending requirements for ethanol and biodiesel. Additionally, the bill introduces a new mandate for biomethane, green diesel or renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Brazil.

Subhash Yadav

Recent Posts

Beyond SCADA: The operating system India’s CBG plants need

The GOBARdhan Scheme has settled the questions that held back India's Compressed Biogas (CBG) sector…

14 minutes ago

IFGE demands long term – balanced ‘Ethanol Procurement Policy’ as Govt stops sugar diversion for ethanol

The Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) has called for a balanced and predictable ethanol…

53 minutes ago

Reliance Industries’ Dinesh Singh makes case for ‘freight support’ to revolutionise FOM adoption

India’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions, improve soil health and cut dependence on imported fertilisers…

18 hours ago

India is arguably biggest potential biogas market in world: Charlotte Morton OBE, Chief Executive, WBA

1. You visited India two years ago. What key changes have you observed in the…

1 day ago

NAN Silox GreenMet to develop Rs 1,400-crore battery recycling plant in Andhra Pradesh

NAN Silox GreenMet, a joint venture with equal share holding between NAN GreenMet and Belgium-based…

3 days ago

Danish technology major Topsoe secures SAF project of BPCL in Mumbai

Global advanced energy transition solutions provider Topsoe has signed a licensing agreement with Bharat Petroleum…

3 days ago