Brazilian experts show Scotland the future for biofuels
Scottish Development International (SDI) and Edinburgh Napier University will today (27th November) welcome a Brazilian delegation of biofuels experts to Scotland, to share experience and expertise on how Scotland can accelerate its biofuels industry.
This event helps to further build relationships with key Brazilian representatives across government, industry and business agencies, following a successful SDI biofuels mission to Brazil earlier in the year which initiated a number of potential collaborations.
Scotland is poised to learn valuble lessons from Brazil’s biofuels industry particularly regarding its experience of producing ethanol and the development path which has led to it becoming a global biofuel industry leader and a policy model for other countries.
While biofuels offer significant potential for sustainable transport, industrial production, electricity and heat, the industry in Europe continues to engender much debate around its economic, environmental and social impacts. Brazil is considered as have the world’s first sustainable biofuel economy and can help Scotland avoid and overcome some of these concerns.
Commenting on the visit, Paul O’Brien, renewable energy manager at SDI, said: “While Scotland is already known for its strengths and capabilities in the energy sector, we cannot afford to be complacent. It is vital that we begin to understand the role that biofuel technologies can play in order to maintain Scotland’s energy supply as well as meet carbon emission targets. This seminar provides a tremendous opportunity for Scotland’s academic, government and business community to hear from Brazilian companies who have successfully created one of the world’s leading sustainable biofuels industries.
“We are looking forward to an informative and interactive discussion around how biofuels can assist Scotland meet renewable electricity and heat targets, what can be done to speed the next generation of biofuels and of course, what policies may be needed to help develop the industry.”
Professor Martin Tangney, director of Edinbugh Napier’s Biofuel research centre, said: “We are honoured to host such distinguished guests at Edinburgh Napier as part of the delegation’s visit to Scotland. The Biofuel Research Centre is driving the development of sustainable biofuels for Scotland and we are looking forward to learning more from those at the very forefront of the Brazilian industry.
“Brazil is the world leader in biofuel and meets over half of all its fuel requirements with biofuel. There is a huge amount that Brazil can teach us and this visit represents an important chance to establish valuable collaborations with both industry and academia in Brazil.”
The Brazilian delegation includes representatives from some of the world’s leading biofuels companies, such as Petrobas – the oil and biofuels producer which is also the largest company in Latin America; UNICA – the Brazilian sugarcane industry association and Dedini – the largest supplier of plants and equipment for the sugar and alcohol sector.