São Paulo is the largest national generator of bioelectricity from biomass, contributing directly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to data from the Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Association (UNICA), the bioenergy generation in the state, accumulated from January to October this year, reached 10,810 GWh. Only in 2023, São Paulo’s production reached 12,445 GWh of the national grid, an increase of 13.6% compared to 2022 (10,958 GWh).
São Paulo’s Ministry of Agriculture and Supplies (SAA) is working on several fronts within the energy transition. “São Paulo will be the champion, as the world bets on energy efficiency and renewable arrays to reduce CO2 emissions,” highlights the Minister of Agriculture, Guilherme Peay.
It is estimated that São Paulo’s bioelectricity production, generating for the grid, has avoided the emission of 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide, a mark that could be reached by planting 18.5 million native trees over 20 years. “The state has 210 thermal electric power plants awarded by the National Electric Energy Agency, that is, almost 50% of the 427 plants in the country that are currently in operation, with bagasse and sugar straw as the main fuel,” highlights the Director of Bioelectricity at UNICA. , Zelmar Souza.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s total bioenergy production reached 28.1 thousand gigawatt-hours per grid, accounting for São Paulo’s 44.2% share of the country’s total. These numbers just show São Paulo’s commitment to renewable and sustainable energy, and the potential the state has to lead this transformation in Brazil.
“São Paulo has a great heritage called sugarcane. A big part of our plan comes from this cycle, which we have been able to make the most of. “It will provide us not only with first-generation ethanol, but also with second-generation ethanol, as well as fertiliser, biogas and methane.” Bio and hydrogen that comes from ethanol reform and sustainable aviation fuel,” celebrates Governor Tarcisio de Freitas.
The researcher at the Agricultural Institute (IAC – Apta), linked to SAA, Heitor Cantarella, highlights that São Paulo is a reference in this sector due to the large number of sugar and ethanol factories operating within the federal unit. “The state has the largest share of bioenergy in its matrix, thanks to the sugarcane sector. In addition to ethanol, bioelectric energy extracted from sugarcane contributes significantly to the sustainable energy matrix of São Paulo and Brazil. The researcher also highlights that energy from bagasse Sugar is generated in the drier months of the year, when hydropower plants produce less.
For Ricardo Rosario, Energy Transition Coordinator at SAA, one of the main milestones of bioenergy currently is the use of biogas and biomethane, with the state of São Paulo making every effort to stimulate production. “In agriculture, for example, environmental licensing procedures are approved and all production chains are encouraged to increase their production through the implementation of biodigesters and other technologies,” Rosario explained. Government of São Paulo State
