Georeferenced modeling study explores the potential of degraded pastures to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
Second from right, Gabriel Palma Petrielli, a member of the LNBR’s Biorefinery and Natural Resources Division, receives an award at the end of the 3rd Congress of the Brazilian Network of Biokerosene and Sustainable Hydrocarbons for Aviation (RBQAV)
Research from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) won second place for oral presentations of technical and scientific projects at the 3rd Congress of the Brazilian Network for Biokerosene and Sustainable Hydrocarbons for Aviation (RBQAV), which was held in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná from June 17 to 19, 2024.
The study, entitled “Potential for biomass production in degraded pastures for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Brazil,” mapped 79.3 million hectares of such areas in Brazil that could be used to produce this fuel according to the criteria for low-risk land use changes in CORSIA, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) program to reduce and compensate for carbon dioxide emissions from international flights.
The researchers used georeferenced modeling to identify potential areas for implementation, focusing on routes like alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) conversion using sugarcane. The ATJ process is one route for converting alcohols into an alternative mixture for jet fuel based on catalytic steps historically used by the petroleum refining and petrochemical industry. The survey estimates a maximum production of 322.7 billion liters of SAF.
“This study underscores Brazil’s significant potential to produce sustainable biofuels for aviation, in line with objectives related to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental sustainability,” says researcher Thayse Hernandes, leader of the Biodiversity and Ecosystems group in the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR) at CNPEM. The study stands out for its contribution to technological and economic advancement in the country’s biofuel sector.
About CNPEM
CNPEM is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment with activities within different fronts of the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the MCTI, CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently developing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. It is responsible for operating the Brazilian Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), and Biorenewables (LNBR) National Laboratories, as well as the Ilum School of Science, which offers a bachelor’s degree program in science and technology with support from the Ministry of Education (MEC).
