Brazilian Biofuels Programmes from the WEL Nexus Perspective

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Brazil’s biofuel programmes viewed from the WEL-nexus perspectiveAs noted, there seems to be a consensus among researchers that the production and use ofethanol as a fuel have a very positive direct influence on GHG mitigation (Coelho et al., 2006;Pousa et al., 2007; Goldemberg et al., 2008, Goldemberg and Guardabassi, 2009; Hira andOliviera, 2009), which occurs through the use of ethanol as a fuel to substitute for gasoline inthe transportation sector, and through the generation of electricity using sugar-cane bagassethat replaces fossil-fuel power generation.In the case of the production and use of bio-diesel, the literature contains wildly divergentestimates of the change in CO2 emissions, ranging from +183% to -78% (Abdullah et al.,2009; Dyer et al., 2010; Qiu et al., 2011; Sheehan et al., 1998; Delucchi, 2006). There is,however, reasonable consensus that this substitution causes a net reduction of otherpollutants, such as CO, SO2 and particulate matter.To a great extent these divergences are due to the different oilseed possibilities considered,each of which has different growing methods and regional peculiarities (Abdullah et al., 2009;Dyer et al., 2010). Besides the differences between crops, the lifecycle emissions of bio-dieselcan also vary according to: (a) the efficiency of fertiliser use; (b) the types of vehicles,engines, roads and trip characteristics; and (c) the operating profile (load) and characteristicsof the engine. For example, Yee et al. (2009) reported a 38% reduction in CO 2 emissions ofpalm-based bio-diesel in Malaysia compared to mineral diesel.The estimates of Sheehan et al. (1998) corroborate the premise that soy-based bio-dieselreduces CO 2 emissions by 78.4% (MAPA, 2006). However, other sources omit the fact that thispotential is based on B100 (i.e. total replacement of mineral diesel by bio-diesel). By aproportional calculation, a blend of 20% bio-diesel would reduce the potential emissionreduction to 15.6%, and at the 5% level the reduction would be approximately 3.9%.It can thus be concluded that biofuels produced in Brazil are sustainable from the perspectiveof climate change since they reduce GHG emissions.38
Brazil’s biofuel programmes viewed from the WEL-nexus perspective5 Interaction of the different components of thevalue system in the implementation of Proalcooland PNPBCountries that could produce sugar cane can profit from the lessons learned during theimplementation of Brazil’s ethanol programme. There were questionable initial policy decisions,market-supply difficulties, severe social and environmental problems to be solved andtechnological challenges to overcome (GTZ, 2005). But today, over 30 years since Proalcool(or its derivative, related to flex-fuel vehicles) began, most of the initial problems have beensolved, and the experience illustrates how a nation with the characteristics of a developingcountry, such as Brazil, can change its energy mix.Although PNPB is a far more recent programme with a chain of production being structuredand the economic, social, and environmental issues still being studied in search of the bestsolutions, it can also offer lessons for other developing and least developed countries (LDCs).In all phases of Proalcool and PNPB, government interventions, and the focus on valuesystems, were very important in order to increase ethanol and bio-diesel production andconsumption, as well as to develop their respective technologies. Both programmes in Brazilwere successful to some extent (Proalcool more than PNPB) because of a combination ofleverage mechanisms that acted simultaneously and comprehensively in the different parts oftheir value-chains (see Figure 5.1).Figure 5.1 Interaction of the different components of the value system in Proalcooland PNPBFrom a policy perspective, a key question concerns whether policy interventions can reshapepower structures so as to enhance ‘biofuel sustainability’ in Brazil or in other producing regions(Lehtonen, 2009).39
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Brazilian Biofuels Programmes from the WEL Nexus Perspective

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