IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Biofuels News magazine: issue 67
Task 39 (Biofuels to Decarbonize Transport) publishes twice a year a Biofuels News magazine. Issue 67 is the first magazine of the new three-year work programme of the Task, where the Task leadership was handed over from Sweden to Brazil. The importance and relevance of the task’s work is demonstrated by the fact that 18 of the members of the IEA Bioenergy TCP have decided to participate in the Task in this triennium (2025-2027).
Download the Issue 67 of Task 39 Biofuels News magazine
The magazines describes in brief which activities were carried out in the past three years, but in particular highlights where it will focus on in the years 2025-2027:
- Developing an implementation agenda for Emerging Markets
- Maintaining and updating the Advanced Biofuels Database
- Explore renewable hydrocarbons for diesel and jet sectors
- Understand the synergy between e-fuels and biofuels production
- Assess potentials for maritime biofuels
- And interact with other tasks in the InterTask Project on BECCUS (Bio Energy Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage)
The biofuels success story of Brazil
The headline story of the Biofuels News Magazine is about Brazil’s biofuels programme ‘Proálcool’.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the pioneering Proálcool Programme, Brazil now replaces over 50% of its petrol use with ethanol, avoiding nearly 1.4 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions since 1975. The country produces over 43 billion liters of ethanol annually, integrating biofuel production with food, feed, and power.
Since its launch in 1975, the program has enabled Brazil to replace more than 50% of its petrol use with sugarcane- and corn-based bioethanol—avoiding nearly 1.4 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions. This legacy positions Brazil as a global benchmark in renewable transportation fuels.
Brazil’s biofuel system is deeply integrated with its food and energy sectors. With just 8% of its land used for agriculture and 66% preserved under native vegetation, Brazil has demonstrated that large-scale biofuel production can coexist with food security, biodiversity protection, and rural development. Today, the country’s transport energy matrix is 22.5% renewable—well above the global average of 3%.
New legislation, including the 2024 “Fuel of the Future” law, aims to further accelerate the energy transition. It sets ambitious targets for ethanol (up to E35) and biodiesel blends (B25 by 2030), along with incentives for biogas, biomethane, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Brazil is also aligning closely with international decarbonization goals in shipping, testing ethanol for marine engines and offering low-carbon fuel blends through its ports.
