Brazil’s federal energy company, Petrobras, is using sugarcane-based ethanol in a gas turbine system to produce electricity on a full commercial scale — the world’s first such project. They marked the occasion with a celebration January 19 at the plant, which uses two GE gas turbines — one of whose combustors has been modified by GE to enable the use of ethanol.
Sweet spot: The Juiz de Fora Power Plant is located about 110 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. The sugar-based ethanol it uses is one of Brazil most efficient biofuels in terms of energy balance and carbon emissions.
In late 2009, Petrobras announced an agreement with GE to convert and test an LM6000 gas turbine system at its Juiz de Fora power plant for sugarcane-based ethanol operation. Demonstration of the newly developed GE conversion kit began in December 2009 and was divided into three phases — the first evaluating engine performance, the second examining reduction of environmental impact and the third investigating impact on the equipment, which had been running on natural gas. This project marks the first time that sugarcane-based ethanol has been used to generate electricity.
There will be five months of demonstration runs to validate the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel, as well as to ensure that emissions are within the expected limits. GE is providing the conversion technology, engineering and field support during conversion and commissioning.
As the world’s second largest producer of ethanol and the world’s largest exporter, Brazil is eager to benefit from incorporating ethanol into its energy profile because it’s so abundant. The country produced about 7.3 billion gallons of ethanol in 2008, according to data provided by Brazil’s government.
Between now and 2013, Petrobras intends to invest heavily in renewable energies and biofuels, with the goal to increase its use of renewable fuels for power generation and demonstrate the feasibility of these fuels, while also increasing fuel supply assurance.
* Read the announcement
* Read “The sugar-land express: Brazil orders 50 locomotives” on GE Reports
* Read about GE Aviation’s recent deal with Brazil’s Azul airline
* Read about GE’s other gas turbine technologies on GE Reports
