Abstract
Concerns over the global energy crisis and climate change are increasingly mediated through the deployment of renewable energy sources, such as biofuels. Second generation (2G) biofuels derived from non-edible feedstocks offer more sustainable and higher productive alternatives than first generation (1G) ones, which are more water and land intensive. New cooperation opportunities, particularly among Brazil, the USA and the EU, have been generated by the emerging 2G global market. Future expansion of 2G production and consumption in the African continent is envisaged to offer a range of benefits, including decreased oil dependency and generation of economic activities which can foster rural development. This chapter outlines the current state of affairs with respect to 2G biofuels in Brazil, including discussion on the future prospects of introducing 2G production in Africa. Opportunities and challenges of 2G cooperation between Brazil, the USA and the EU are discussed. Secondary data from government documents, published reports and scientific studies were integrated with semi-structured interviews and personal communications with Brazilian line ministries and EU officials. Data show a great potential for the expansion of Brazil’s 1G ethanol industry in Africa, but 2G development is not identified as a foreseeable option in the forthcoming years. This is due to the high production costs, lack of advanced technology and the unattractive business environment. The creation of a 1G consumer market and establishment of safe legal and policy frameworks are needed in order to foster 2G investments. As observed in terms of international cooperation, Brazil’s potential to foster 2G technologies in Africa is compromised by a disconnect between science production, industrial and policy developments. Cooperation of Brazil with the EU is focused on fundamental sciences, while linkages with the USA are limited to private sector and market development. Increased policy coordination towards the transition from 1G to 2G, as well as stronger budget support, is key for enabling Brazil’s future leadership in the international 2G arena.
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Notes
- 1.
Interview, Petrobras Biocombustível, Rio de Janeiro, March 2013.
- 2.
Interview, Sugarcane Technology Research Center (CTC), Piracicaba, March 2013.
- 3.
Telephone interview, GranBio, a 2G commercial plant in Alagoas, Brazil (September 2014).
- 4.
Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social.
- 5.
Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos; an organisation under the Brazilian Ministry of Science & Technology.
- 6.
Interview, BNDES, Sao Paulo (September 2014).
- 7.
Interview, Ministry of External Relations, Brasilia, March 2013.
- 8.
Telephone interview, GranBio, a 2G commercial plant in Alagoas, Brazil (September 2014).
- 9.
Interview, Ministry of Mining and Energy, Brasilia, March 2013.
- 10.
Interview, Ministry of Agriculture, Brasilia, September 2014.
- 11.
Besides greenhouse gas savings (currently 35 %, rising to 50 % in 2017), the EU’s sustainability criteria stipulate that biofuel feedstock is not to be derived from primary forests, lands with high biodiversity value, protected territories and carbon-rich areas.
- 12.
Interview, Ministry of External Relations, Brasilia, March 2013.
- 13.
Interview, Institute of Electrotechnics and Energy, University of Sao Paulo, February 2013.
- 14.
Interview, BNDES, Sao Paulo, March 2013.
- 15.
Sustainable Liquid Biofuels from Biomass Biorefining (SUNLIBB). For further information, see sunlibb.eu.
- 16.
Centre of Biological and Industrial Process for Biofuels (CeProBio).
- 17.
Interview, EU Delegation to Brazil, Brasilia, September 2014.
- 18.
Interview, BNDES, Sao Paulo, September 2014.
- 19.
Interview, CTBE, Campinas, Sao Paulo, September 2015.
- 20.
Interview, BNDES, Sao Paulo, September 2014.
- 21.
Interview, Ministry of External Relations, Brasilia, September 2014.
- 22.
Interview, Institute of Energy and Environment, University of Sao Paulo, August 2014.
- 23.
Interview, US Embassy in Brazil, September 2014.
- 24.
Interview, Ministry of Agriculture, Brasilia, September 2014.
- 25.
Interview, US Embassy in Brazil, September 2014.
- 26.
Interview, US Embassy in Brazil, September 2014.
- 27.
Telephone interview, GranBio, a 2G commercial plant in Alagoas, Brazil (September 2014).
- 28.
Interview, Petrobras Biocombustível, Rio de Janeiro, March 2013.
- 29.
Interview, Petrobras Biocombustível, Rio de Janeiro, March 2013.
- 30.
Interview, Ministry of External Relations, Brasilia, March 2013.
- 31.
Interview, Ministry of Mining and Energy, Brasilia, March 2013.
- 32.
Interview, Ministry of External Relations, Brasilia, September 2014.
- 33.
Interview, Delegation of Brazil to the EU, Brussels, September 2013.
- 34.
Interview, BNDES, Sao Paulo, March 2013.
- 35.
Interview, BNDES, Sao Paulo, September 2014.
- 36.
Interview, Petrobras Biocombustível, Rio de Janeiro, March 2013.
- 37.
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Favretto, N., Stringer, L.C., Buckeridge, M.S., Afionis, S. (2017). Policy and Diplomacy in the Production of Second Generation Ethanol in Brazil: International Relations with the EU, the USA and Africa. In: Buckeridge, M., De Souza, A. (eds) Advances of Basic Science for Second Generation Bioethanol from Sugarcane. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49826-3_11
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