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Biofuel production has stood out at the international level on account of its more environmentally sustainable characteristics and the potential to promote rural development in developing countries. In Brazil, biodiesel is being produced through legislation requiring the addition (currently 7%) of biofuel to petroleum diesel. The federal program (PNPB) aimed the social inclusion of small farmers and diversification of Brazilian matrix by incentives regional crops production. The possibility of broadening raw material sources for biodiesel production benefits the Brazilian competitiveness. At the same time, facing the vast varieties of raw materials available in this country, it is a challenge to figure out which crop would be more appropriate to this chain. The palm species Acrocomia aculeata ( macaúba ) could provide an alternative resource for energy diversification in Brazil and Latin American countries. The crop species has drawn attention due to its high productivity rates and because it is not used for food purposes. In this sense, this paper examines the opportunity of biodiesel production from A. aculeata as a potential source for future energy supply, particularly for biodiesel, especially in Brazil. This paper presents A. aculeata and some points that allow compare with other crops. Several related aspects are covered in this paper, such as economics, botanical description, the extraction and compositions, physical and chemical properties of crude A. aculeata oil and fatty acid composition of A. aculeata . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before the COVID pandemic, oil and gas companies invested only a small fraction of their capital on sustainable energy technologies. With the substantial improvement in the performance of batteries and their rapid cost reduction, the oil and gas industry could potentially lose a large share of their market in the transport sector. A similar shift in energy sources is happening with the surge in renewable energy sources to supply electricity, heating and cooling. In an ever more sustainable future, the need for an oil and gas industry could reduce significantly. This paper reviews the possible paths that an oil and gas company could follow to become a sustainable development corporation and continue to be relevant in the future. This paper aims to describe alternative sustainable pathways such as the extraction of natural hydrogen, a hydrogen economy, offshore wind power, deep sea mining, biorefineries, seawater air-conditioning, geothermal and geoengineering. This paper also proposes the use of electrolysis ships for the flexible production of green hydrogen and showed that its investment cost can be three times smaller than in fixed electrolysis plants. The oil and gas industry has substantial intellectual, financial capital and geopolitical influence that would not be lost during a shift to a more sustainable world. Indeed, these assets should be used to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable future. • Hydrogen is a good alternative for sustainable development in O&G companies. • Natural hydrogen is a good alternative to the upstream O&G companies. • Benefits of electrolysis ships to produce green hydrogen. • Case study to produce green hydrogen in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for sugarcane ethanol from Brazil to mitigate GHG emissions is undeniable, but the way that ethanol is produced during the agricultural and industrial phases will ultimately determine its benefits to society. In this paper, we evaluate the environmental impacts of sugarcane agriculture and ethanol production in Brazil as management practices continue to change and production expands to new frontiers. We focused our evaluation on the impacts on water, atmosphere, and soils, including how the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers and the accumulation of crop residue in the field affect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). We also addressed the impacts of land use changes on threatened biomes and discussed some of the present obstacles regarding conservation and restoration efforts. We concluded that, since a similar assessment was put forth in 2008, our knowledge about the environmental impacts of sugarcane ethanol in Brazil has advanced with regard to soil degradation, nitrogen dynamics, and soil carbon stocks. However, more information is still needed about the impacts of the increasing use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in sugarcane agriculture, especially on water resources. Furthermore, without a better understanding about how landscape fragmentation affects the biodiversity of terrestrial and aquatic tropical ecosystems and the services they provide, policies created to protect and restore them may be ineffective. On the other hand, the use of presently available scientific information to end unsustainable farming and the implementation of conservation strategies proposed by the Brazilian Forest Code could be a first step to guarantee that ethanol is produced more sustainably in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is a fundamental topic to be addressed in the establishment of a market for jet biofuels in Brazil. The objective of this paper is to enhance the discussion on sustainability of biofuels, and to discuss the main gaps to meet the requirements of sustainability for four groups of feedstock: sugars and starch, oil, lignocelluloses, and wastes. Some general common conclusions can be made for all the analyzed feedstock. In the social sphere, the main positive impacts are the high potential for job creation, income generation and regional development. Regarding the gaps for compliance with sustainability requirements, the following aspects were common to all groups of feedstock: great number of laws and rules; different interpretations and lack of knowledge on how to apply some laws; certain labor laws not adapted to the rural context. The main potential positive impact generated by compliance with requirements is greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions compared to fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]