Representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy and Renewable Fuels Association, entities representing U.S. corn producers and the U.S. ethanol industry, were at Embrapa Agroenergia in Brasilia on Tuesday morning (22/3) for a meeting whose agenda was RenovaBio. The USDA and the U.S. Grains Council seek to create mechanisms with the Brazilian government to enable the adherence of importers of u.S. corn ethanol to RenovaBio's policy.

Alexandre Alonso, chief general of Embrapa Agroenergia, represented embrapa president Celso Moretti at the meeting. Bruno Laviola, head of R&D, researcher Alexandre Cardoso and R&D analyst Priscila Sabaini also participated in Embrapa Agroenergia. Representing the USDA, Were present Nicolas Rubio, Director of Agricultural Trade, and, by the U.S. Grains Council, Juan Diaz, regional ethanol consultant for Latin America, and brazilian representatives of the association Fernanda Burle and Ana Carolina Castro.

Alonso explained some premises of RenovaBio, the National Biofuels Policy, established in 2017 by Law No. 13,576/2017 with the objective of promoting the expansion of biofuels in Brazil (ethanol, biodiesel, biomethane, biokerosene, second generation, among others) from more sustainable production models, stimulating the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fulfilling the commitments made by the country under the Paris Agreement.

RenovaBio's main instrument is the establishment of annual national decarbonization targets for the country's fuel sector. "In this area, Embrapa played a major role in creating RenovaCalc, a tool used to calculate the carbon intensity of the biofuels produced, using the Life Cycle Assessment criterion as a parameter in 2018," Alonso explained. Through this assessment, banknotes are awarded for each biofuel producer and exporter (Energy-Environmental Efficiency Note), which in turn gives access to decarbonization credits (CBIOs), with market value. 

Currently, 1 CBIO is equivalent to 1 ton of avoided emissions, which are seven trees planted in terms of carbon capture. The Federal Government's goal is, by 2029, to offset greenhouse gas emissions in the equivalent of planting 5 billion trees, which would mean all existing trees in Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands and United Kingdom together.

The group of visitors discussed the eligibility criteria for RenovaBio, especially for ethanol derived from corn imported from the Usa, and pondered the costs arising from the complete traceability of production for the purposes of adhering to Brazilian policy. "We have different realities and undoubtedly following legislation is important. That's why we would like to better understand how corn ethanol exported to Brazil can benefit from RenovaBio and have access to The CBios," Juan Diaz said.

In the case of biofuel producers and importers who wish to join the program, it is necessary to hire inspector firms accredited by the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) to carry out the Biofuel Certification and validation of the Energy-Environmental Efficiency Note and the eligible volume. The Certificate of Efficient Production of Biofuels is valid for three years, counted from the date of approval by the ANP, and can only be issued by the approval firm after approval of the process by the Agency.

Alonso replied that, although Embrapa played a major role in the construction of the policy, the management of the RenovaBio program is the responsibility of the ANP, linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). However, Embrapa Agroenergia undertook to receive the proposal for the support of North American corn producers, with the available data on current production, and forward it to the RenovaBio Technical Group. 

Source: EMBRAPA