One of Brazil’s leading ethanol producers has announced it will advance to the next phase of a carbon capture initiative valued at around 460 million reais, which it claims will result in the first negative carbon-emission ethanol.
FS Bioenergia, supported by US-based Summit AG Advisors LLC, stated on Tuesday that it will invest an additional 350 million reais to purchase equipment and implement carbon capture for the project, following a previous investment of 110 million reais.
This announcement coincides with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva’s approval on Tuesday of the “Fuel of The Future” legislation, which establishes broader mandates for biofuels. The investment is a key strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of the biofuel that would make the product more attractive for nascent markets such as sustainable aviation fuel.
The technology, known as BECCS, will capture and store underground carbon emissions generated during fermentation at one of FS Bioenergia’s corn-based ethanol facilities in Brazil. Construction is expected to commence next year, with an anticipated completion date of June 2026.
