Biofuels in Latin America

Latin America (LA) is endowed with renewable energy resources (RER) which could, if adequately tapped, pay a significant contribution to meet the world’s future energy needs. The need for energy is expected to increase fast, not only because of increasing energy demand among emerging economies, but also, because of growing interest in clean energy, particularly among developed countries. Despite their potential, most Latin American countries are far from benefiting fully from their RER endowments. Brazil is one of the few countries of the continent that has historically shown an increasing supply and use of RER since Brazil’s production and utilization of bioethanol from sugarcane has become a viable transport fuel since 30 years. Another example is the utilization of soybeans for biodiesel production. Nevertheless, apart from Brazil, there are many other countries in the region that offer a significant potential for the production of transport biofuels due to favourable climatic conditions.

Despite the potential for the production of biofuels many Latin American countries offer, only a fraction of it has been utilized. Steadily increasing economic activity and mobility in the region during the last decade is giving rise to increased demand for biofuels. The untapped resources of Latin American countries provide an excellent opportunity to meet the increasing demand for transport energy in a sustainable manner.

Mapping of the Biofuel Sector in LA - Work Package 2 

Work Package 2 of the BioTop project provides an overview about the existing biofuels sector in Latin American counties. The outcomes of this task are the scientific basis for work packages 3, 4 and 5 that are dedicated to specific research topics. Surveys will generate and prepare information on feedstock production, biomass conversion technologies, biofuel markets, biofuel applications, and biofuel policies.

The data on biofuels in LA have been collected and integrated in the Interactive Biofuel Map for Latin America which is available here.

 
BioTop Reports 

In the framework of BioTop WP2, the following reports were elaborated:

• Biofuel policies and legislation in Latin America
• Overview of existing biomass conversion technologies in Latin America
• Feedstock Production in Latin America
• Overview of biofuel markets and biofuel applications in Latin America
• Gender aspects in Biofuels research in Latin America

production and utilization of bioethanol from sugarcane has become a viable transport fuel since 30 years. Another example is the utilization of soybeans for biodiesel production. Nevertheless, apart from Brazil, there are many other countries in the region that offer a significant potential for the production of transport biofuels due to favourable climatic conditions.

Despite the potential for the production of biofuels many Latin American countries offer, only a fraction of it has been utilized. Steadily increasing economic activity and mobility in the region during the last decade is giving rise to increased demand for biofuels. The untapped resources of Latin American countries provide an excellent opportunity to meet the increasing demand for transport energy in a sustainable manner.

Task 2.6 of the BioTop project includes a survey on biofuel policies in Latin America.
The following link of the "Camara Argentina de Energias Renovables" includes a collection of biofuels laws of various Latin American countries (Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina and some Provinces in Argentina):

Biofuel Policies in LA

Task 2.6 of the BioTop project includes a survey on Biofuel policies and legislation in Latin America , which is available here.
The following link of the "Camara Argentina de Energias Renovables" includes a collection of biofuels laws of various Latin American countries (Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina and some Provinces in Argentina):

 http://www.argentinarenovables.org/leyes.php