Brazil is making significant strides in the development and production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), positioning itself as a potential leader in this emerging market. Brazil has the potential to produce around 50 billion liters (13.2 billion gallons) of feedstock-based aviation fuel by 2030, according to Airbus Brazil President Gilberto Peralta. This ambitious target highlights Brazil’s commitment to becoming a major player in the SAF industry.
Brazil possesses several advantages that make it well-suited for SAF production:
· Biofuel experience. Brazil has a rich history in biofuel production, especially ethanol from sugarcane, which provides a solid foundation for pioneering SAF.
· Abundant feedstock. The country has access to vast natural resources and growing renewable energy infrastructure, which are crucial for SAF production.
· Aviation sector. Brazil’s expansive aviation sector, with over 100 airports and a fleet of over 2,000 aircraft, provides a strong domestic market for SAF.
Several initiatives are underway to advance SAF production in Brazil:
· BioQAv project: Led by Boeing, Embraer, GOL and World Energy, this project aims to produce hydro processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) from used cooking oil.
· BioValor project: Amyris, TotalEnergies and LanzaTech are collaborating to produce alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel from sugarcane bagasse.
· H2Fly project: Siemens Energy, Airbus and EMBRAPII are working on producing synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Despite the promising outlook, there are challenges to overcome:
· Feedstock competition. Brazil will need to strategically ensure feedstock availability for both SAF and green diesel production, considering its current dependence on sugarcane for ethanol and soybean oil for biodiesel.
· Sustainability requirements. Not all biofuels meet the strict environmental, social and economic sustainability certification requirements for SAF. Deforestation concerns, particularly related to soybean production, need to be addressed.
· Infrastructure and investment. Significant investments in infrastructure and technology will be required to scale up SAF production to meet the projected potential.
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