Transition to renewable energy

Promoting consumption of biodiesel to replace fossil diesel (Establishment and implementation of the National Policy on Biofuels (RenovaBio Program) – Law 13.576/2017, as well as biodiesel blending percentages in fossil diesel – Law 13,263/2016. The referred Law determined that the percentages of mandatory blending of biodiesel into diesel oil should be 8% (eight percent) 12 months after the enactment of the Law; 9% (nine percent) 24 months after the enactment of the Law; and 10% 36 months after the enactment of the Law. In 2019, the biodiesel blending has got 15% after tests and trials with engines.).
Studies show that the production of national biodiesel, especially for modern diesel vehicles, presents opportunities and advantages, such as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, considering the fuel use stage; reduced local GHG emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate material (PM), sulfur oxide (SOx), total hydrocarbons (HC) and most of toxic hydrocarbons, contributing to pollution reduction of cities and improved quality of life and health of the inhabitants; strengthening and diversification of renewable energy sources in the Brazilian energy mix; new business opportunities, particularly in agribusiness, job and income generation.
The federal government has also promoted initiatives in order to regulate the expansion of oilseed production in Brazil and offer instruments to ensure production on sustainable environmental and social bases. The guidelines involve the preservation of forest and native vegetation and the expansion of the integrated production of family farming in priority territories.
Particular attention must be drawn to the fact that raw material cultivation and the industrial production of biodiesel, i.e., the biodiesel production chain has great potential to generate jobs and income, thus promoting social inclusion and economic development.
The Federal Government launched the “Social Fuel Seal”, a set of specific measures aimed at stimulating social inclusion in agriculture within this important production chain35. Family farmers who wish to participate in the biodiesel productive chain also have access to credit from the National Program for Strengthening Family-based Agriculture (Pronaf) 36, through banks that operate with this program, as well as access to technical assistance provided by the companies that have the “Social Fuel Seal”.
One of the country’s most distinctive characteristics is its energy mix, with a significant share of renewable sources particularly in the generation of electric energy, affording a low-carbon profile to the sector. Maintaining this profile in the future, considering the need for economic, growth poses a great challenge to Brazil.
The actions for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions must comply with the elements of the national energy policy, such as energy security in response to demand, affordability of prices and tariffs and the universalization of access to energy, in addition to the competitiveness between the sources and the use of national technology.).