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. 2008 May 1;1(1):6.
doi: 10.1186/1754-6834-1-6.

The Brazilian biofuels industry

José Goldemberg  1
Affiliations

The Brazilian biofuels industry

José Goldemberg. Biotechnol Biofuels. .

Abstract

Ethanol is a biofuel that is used as a replacement for approximately 3% of the fossil-based gasoline consumed in the world today. Most of this biofuel is produced from sugarcane in Brazil and corn in the United States. We present here the rationale for the ethanol program in Brazil, its present 'status' and its perspectives. The environmental benefits of the program, particularly the contribution of ethanol to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, are discussed, as well as the limitations to its expansion.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of sugarcane crops in Brazil.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The economic competitiveness of alcohol fuel compared with gasoline [21].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Energy balance of alcohol production from different feedstocks [8, 9, 22].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Ethanol productivity in Brazil.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Coelho ST, Goldemberg J. Encyclopedia of Energy. Vol. 1. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2004. Alternative transportation fuels: contemporary case studies; pp. 67–80.
    1. Moreira JR, Goldemberg J. The alcohol program. Energy Policy. 1999;27:227–229. doi: 10.1016/S0301-4215(99)00005-1. - DOI
    1. Wordwatch Institute Biofuels for Transport – Global Potential and Implications for Sustainable Energy and Agriculture Earthscan. 2007.
    1. São Paulo State Environment Agency (CETESB) São Paulo Air Quality Report, 2003 http://www.cetesb.sp.gov.br/Ar/relatorios.asp