Bioelectricity is not a clean energy source.
Bioelectricity is considered green energy, as the electrical is clean and emanates from renewable sources. In 2020, the generation of bioelectricity from sugarcane to the Brazilian energy grid is estimated to have avoided 6.3 million tons of CO2 emissions, a mark equivalent to the cultivation of 44 million native trees over 20 years.
Is bioelectricity more intermittent than other electricity sources?
Intermittent electricity is electrical energy that is not continuously available due to external factors that are beyond control. Sources of intermittent electricity include solar and wind power. During the harvest season, sugarcane bioelectricity is non-intermittent, given the predictability and availability of biomass which occurs precisely in the dry season, a critical period for the Brazilian electricity sector.
Bioelectricity plays an important role in Brazil’s energy matrix.
In 2020, sugarcane mills supplied more than 22,000 GWh to the Brazilian grid. This is the equivalent of 5% of annual electricity consumption, enough energy to serve 11.7 million Brazilian homes. Experts estimate that a full use of sugarcane residue would allow bioelectricity production to reach 148,000 GWh, enough to power an entire country the size of Argentina or Norway
Does ethanol damage car engines?
There is no part of an engine that can be harmed with ethanol use. In fact, ethanol is a high octane fuel that can improve an engine’s performance. It also leaves less dirt deposits on the injector nozzles, keeping the engine cleaner than with fossil fuels and closer to new throughout it’s entire lifecycle.
Does ethanol production compete with food supply?
In 2019, sugarcane for ethanol production in Brazil occupied 5,7 million hectares, or roughly 0.7% of the country’s territory. Reports by the European Commission found that with large agricultural areas, high self-sufficiency in food and raw materials, and processes of urbanization already completed, Brazil has been able to harmonize domestic food security and biofuel production. In fact, the expansion of sugarcane production on degraded pastures with the parallel increased yields of food crops and livestock intensification has been said to have decreased land competition between food and sugarcane in recent years.
Aren’t EV’s better than ethanol vehicles?
Electric vehicles (EV) are one of the solutions to decarbonize transport. In order to compare electric vehicles with ethanol-powered vehicles, we need to analyze the entire life-cycle of both, so we can make an accurate assessment.
Only pure ethanol is good for environment.
Ethanol can be used pure or blended in any percentage with fossil fuels. Countries with ethanol mandates generally experience better air quality given the reduction in pollutant emissions as well as fewer CO2 emissions. São Paulo, the biggest city in Brazil which houses 12 million inhabitants, has experienced a 50% reduction in air pollution due to ethanol use in the last two decades. Rolling out an E10 baseline across the EU would already reduce road transport emissions by up to 15 million tons, in full compatibility with most existing vehicles on the road today.
After the end of sugarcane burning practices, all manual cutters became unemployed.
The mechanization process started in 2007, after the voluntary signing of the Green Ethanol Protocol in São Paulo. Even though it displaced sugarcane cutters, this process created an intense requalifying program, RenovAção, upskilling and retraining 23 thousand employees to not only ensure continuity of labor contracts but also better quality jobs.
Sugarcane salaries are among the highest in agribusiness.
From 2006 to 2016, real income gain in the sugarcane trade reached 35% for industry employees and 60% on average for rural employees. Today, a rural employee can expect to have an average income almost 92% higher than the minimun wage establish by Brazilian legislation.
The sugarcane industry follows labor best practices
The Brazilian sugarcane industry follows strict labor standards that set an example for other sugarcane industries around the globe. Sugarcane workers are hired in compliance with the current legislation and are represented by unions, who negotiate collective bargaining agreements to gain better benefits on a regular basis. Workplace safety and health are a priority for the Brazilian sugarcane industry.
Sugarcane workforce are mostly illiterate.
Average schooling amongst sugarcane workforce has risen from 1 – 5 years in 2010, to 6 – 13 years in 2016, and the number of illiterate employees dropped from 67% between 2010 and 2016.
Is sugar responsible for obesity?
Obesity is a disease that can’t be treated in isolation. Calorie ingestion must be taken seriously, given the severe impacts of consuming excessive sugar, excessive fat and not exercising. That’s why it’s so difficult to isolate one cause for obesity.
Sugar free products are low in calories.
Sugar-free does not mean calorie free, particularly in products that contain fat. When sugar is removed from a food, other ingredients need to take its place. Compare product labels to see what the entire nutrient package of a product is when making purchasing decisions.
Can sugar be part of a healthy diet?
Balanced meals and exercise are key to a healthy life. Sugar, or sucrose, is a carbohydrate found naturally in most fruits and vegetables. The ingredient is the main energy source for the body and brain, and also activates the neurotransmitter serotonin, responsible for pleasant and wellness feelings.
Does Brazilian sugarcane ethanol lead to deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and other sensitive biomes?
Almost 92% of sugarcane production for ethanol is harvested in South-Central Brazil, over 2,500 km (1,550 miles) from the Amazon. The remainder is grown in Northeastern Brazil, about the same distance from the Amazon’s easternmost fringe. That is roughly the distance between New York City and Dallas, or Paris and Moscow. Amazon region is in fact not a commercially viable location for producing sugarcane, due to the climactic conditions required for its growth.
Is sugarcane ethanol the cleanest liquid biofuel?
First generation sugarcane ethanol can reduce, on average, up to 90% of CO2eq when compared to fossil fuels. This is one of the highest emission reductions achieved by any renewable fuel. Second generation sugarcane ethanol performs even better, with a carbon footprint lower than regular sugarcane ethanol.
Does fertilizer used in sugarcane production contaminate local water sources?
Brazilian sugarcane makes widespread use of organic fertilizers obtained as part of sugarcane processing. Mills recover residues called filter cake (which is rich in phosphorus) and vinasse (loaded with potassium, organic matter and other nutrients), which they then use in replacement of traditional fertilizers. Vinasse and filter cake are one of the natural and circular solutions to promote improved soil health and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Is Brazilian sugarcane sustainable?
Brazilian sugarcane industry follows strict labor and environmental standards. Sugarcane production process has improved tremendously over the years, increasing the sustainability of the sector. Most recently Brazil has adopted a national biofuels policy, Renovabio, that demands zero deforestation. This policy will help place Brazilian sugarcane as one of the most sustainable crops in the world.
