Industry sector

Production of sustainable, renewable biomass-based charcoal for the iron and steel industry in Brazil (Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the iron and steel sector in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais, by (i) developing and demonstrating enhanced, clean conversion technologies for renewable, biomass-based charcoal production, and (ii) implementing an effective, supportive policy framework.
The renewable biomass resources for charcoal production are obtained from sustainably-grown eucalyptus plantations. The use of renewable charcoal provides an alternative development path to mitigate large quantities of global greenhouse gas emissions by improving resource efficiency during the charcoal conversion process and by offsetting the use of mineral cokes for pig iron production. The Project is pushing the status of clean charcoal conversion technologies from the level of small-scale pilots by the industry to successful demonstration of advanced commercial production facilities.
The common iron production process, based on mineral cokes, is a major source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas releases (CO2), causing global warming. The use of a renewable source of carbon (charcoal) provides an alternative course of action to mitigate large quantities of global greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the iron and steel sector in Brazil already uses large amounts of charcoal, but (i) the input wood resources are used very inefficiently; (ii) the traditional charcoal production process is polluting, releases significant amounts of methane (contributing to global warming) and is difficult to control; (iii) the charcoal production process releases gases and other substances which can be used productively if captured (for electricity cogeneration and bio-refinery purposes); and (iv) the input wood resources used are only partly renewable. With more advanced conversion technologies and improved process conditions, much more charcoal can be produced per unit wood input, while the adverse environmental and health impacts of the present production process can be avoided; in addition, by-products can contribute to enhance and diversify charcoal production as a commercial business.
The scope of the Project consists in (i) bringing together government actors, industries, sector stakeholders and research institutes; (ii) constructing a clear path towards market transformation by policy development in Minas Gerais; (iii) providing assistance for technological development; and (iv) implement a first batch of commercial, advanced charcoal production facilities by providing specific financial incentives for the use of renewable charcoal.
The project is current starting a new phase, encompassing more small producers of charcoal).

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