Renewable Energy Potential and CO 2 Performance of Main Biomasses Used in Brazil

Elem Patricia Rocha Alves, Orlando Salcedo-Puerto, Jesús Nuncira, Samuel Emebu and Clara Mendoza-Martinez ()
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Elem Patricia Rocha Alves: Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Janaúba 39440-000, MG, Brazil
Orlando Salcedo-Puerto: Department of Energy Technology, School of Energy Systems, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
Jesús Nuncira: Department of Energy Technology, School of Energy Systems, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
Samuel Emebu: Department of Automatic Control and Informatics, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, 760 05 Zlín, Czech Republic
Clara Mendoza-Martinez: Department of Energy Technology, School of Energy Systems, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-59

Abstract: This review investigates the effects of the Brazilian agriculture production and forestry sector on carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. Residual biomasses produced mainly in the agro-industrial and forestry sector as well as fast-growing plants were studied. Possibilities to minimize source-related emissions by sequestering part of carbon in soil and by producing biomass as a substitute for fossil fuel were extensively investigated. The lack of consistency among literature reports on residual biomass makes it difficult to compare CO 2 emission reductions between studies and sectors. Data on chemical composition, heating value, proximate and ultimate analysis of the biomasses were collected. Then, the carbon sequestration potential of the biomasses as well as their usability in renewable energy practices were studied. Over 779.6 million tons of agricultural residues were generated in Brazil between 2021 and 2022. This implies a 12.1 million PJ energy potential, while 4.95 million tons of forestry residues was generated in 2019. An estimated carbon content of 276 Tg from these residues could lead to the production of approximately 1014.2 Tg of CO 2 . Brazilian biomasses, with a particular focus on agro-forest waste, can contribute to the development of sustainable alternative energy sources. Moreover, agro-waste can provide carbon credits for sustainable Brazilian agricultural development.

Keywords: biomass; renewable energy; carbon dioxide; thermochemical conversion; biofuels (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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