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Many nations have pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Embarking on the decarbonization journey, they posited geological carbon storage (GCS) as a pivotal technology within the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) framework. The CCUS chain operates to reduce "hard-to-abate" emissions at key sectors by capturing carbon dioxide (CO 2), reusing it, transporting it, or disposing of it via injection into underground geological formations for permanent storage. Despite the global success of GCS ventures, mainly driven by the oil and gas industry, GCS initiatives are still in their early stages in several developing countries. In Brazil, for instance, a full setup covering precise storage capacity databases, potential CCUS clusters, national regulatory structure, and auxiliary computer-aided engineering is underway. Intended to push the frontier in the latter subject, this paper introduces mathematical models for qualifying underground CO 2 storage sites. Our research explores a family of multivariate functionals endowed with underlying reservoir features and distinct weighting functions, thus envisioning two primary objectives. Firstly, it clarifies non-linear interactions between rock and fluid properties using quality indicators. Secondly, it evaluates geographical regions considering structural traps/caprocks settings. Backed by the Matlab Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST) capabilities, the methodology is a subsidiary resource for identifying suitable injection and storage sites. A case study using the UNISIM-I-D model generated dozens of volumetric quality maps that point to unique potential storage sites. Numerical simulation experiments of injection comparing legacy and novel wells reveal storage surpluses improved by up to 50%. The paper seeks to establish foundational knowledge in GCS efficiency for general underground settings. One expects that these outcomes leverage well-repurposing perspectives and stimulate field appraisal actions to scale up GCS projects both in Brazil and worldwide. • Introduction of a family of mathematical functionals for site qualification. • Trap analysis and supercritical gas injection over a Brazilian offshore reservoir model. • Comparison of storage surplus in theoretically-proposed and legacy well locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Committed to achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century, South America faces unique challenges in carbon mitigation due to its distinct socio-economic, technological, and institutional backgrounds compared to developed and other developing economies. Previous research on South America's carbon emissions has limited country and sector coverage and typically adopts a top-down approach that focuses on the overall emissions of an economy, neglecting individual energy sources and emission sectors. Therefore, this paper compiles a comprehensive inventory of CO 2 emissions for South American countries based on a meticulous bottom-up approach and multi-source data integration, followed by a thorough analysis of their temporal evolution patterns and the driving forces behind them. Between 2010 and 2020, South America's overall emissions peaked in 2014 at 1092.3 Mt., led by emissions from oil consumption and from the transport and electricity sectors, and dropped to 865.6 Mt. in 2020, due to the economic fluctuations and COVID-19. Specifically, Brazil was the largest emitter, Chile experienced the most significant increase in emissions, and Paraguay recorded the highest emission growth rate. Generally, expanding population was constant driver of emission growth. High energy intensity led to significant emission increases in Brazil and Ecuador, while elevated carbon intensity was the main driver in Argentina. Energy structure changes played a positive role in most countries to different extents (e.g., much more significant in Brazil than in Chile) but aggrevated emissions in Paraguay and Guyana. Therefore, carbon mitigation strategies should be tailored to each country's unique national circumstances. • During 2010–2020, South America's CO 2 emissions from fossil fuels peaked in 2014. • Transport and electricity sectors comprised over 60% of total emissions. • Brazil was the top emitter, while Chile saw the largest increase in emissions. • Emission patterns and driving factors varied significantly across countries. • Carbon reduction strategies should be tailored to local circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian merchant pig iron (MPI) mills, even those relying exclusively on charcoal, are at least as harmful to the global climate as the coal-based competitors they confront in international trade. However, when timber from deforestation is replaced by sustainably managed forest plantations, a carbon neutral process emerges. Yet the cost of growing trees can be large enough to discourage mills from pursuing such a climate change mitigation route. The paper shows that the impasse can be overcome by the improvement of pyrolysis kilns coupled with a multilateral agreement in which (1) Brazil supplies attested carbon-neutral MPI and (2) importers of Brazilian MPI take environmental concerns to the field of MPI trade, paying a premium of 19% of MPI price or of US$3 per ton of avoided emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the largest producer of paddy rice in the American Continent, straw discarded in the field after the rice harvest can be used for methanol production and help mitigate the impact of global warming. This paper presents the first environmental impact study of the life cycle of rice straw methanol in Brazil, whose objective was to produce an inventory and determine impacts on global warming based on collected data from actual logistic process of rice straw grown in a region in southern Brazil, since there is no such information in the Brazilian literature. Methanol production from rice straw involves different activities associated with rice cultivation, straw collection, straw transportation, and methanol production. The study focuses on the detailed evaluation of the processes responsible for direct and indirect emissions, including emissions from decomposition processes in the flooded rice fields and carbon neutral emissions from the methane production stage. The results show that the removal of rice straw from the field after harvest promoted the reduction of biogenic emissions of methane, on the other hand increased nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions due to the higher use of fertilizers to maintain the yield of harvested rice. The rice straw required for the methanol plant with an annual production of 148.70 thousand tons level is 4.52 kg per of kg methanol and the life cycle carbon footprint is 8.09 × 10−01 kg CO 2eq per kg methanol, of which straw collection stage is the largest contributor with a share of 43.15%, followed by transport of straw bales with 15.32%. Comparing to fossil methanol, biomethanol has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 67–74%. This advantage is a consequence of the carbon dioxide emissions from the gasification, gas conditioning, and rice straw burning processes being considered as neutral carbon. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]