Adecoagro and Galileo Technologies initiate an innovative project of renewable natural gas production for vehicles

The company with a strong presence in the sugar-energy sector in South America, and the technological leader in CNG join forces for fossil fuels displacement. Hydrogen amid their goals.

Biobox 500, biogas upgrading and RNG compression package.

September 16th – Starting this month, Adecoagro, one of the main food and renewable energies producers in South America, replaces fossil fuels with compressed biomethane (Bio-NGV or Bio-CNG) in 13 fleet vehicles in their sugar plant in Ivinhema (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil): seven light-duty, three commercial vehicles and three trucks. This renewable fuel derives from the biomethane released from vinasse, a byproduct of the ethanol production of the company’s sugar activity. This innovation is a result of their partnership with Galileo Technologies, a company that operates in 70 countries, focused on offering clean energies solutions from gaseous fuels.

7.06 MMSCF of Bio-NGV will be produced monthly to substitute the consumption of 44,900 gallons of diesel. The goal is to to reach a Bio-NGV production equivalent to 13.2 M gallons of diesel annually.

During the first stage and with 5% of  vinasse concentrated, 7.06 MMSCF of Bio-NGV will be produced monthly to substitute the consumption of 44,900 gallons of diesel through the Biobox 500 biomethane upgrading and compression technology developed by Galileo Technologies.  The goal is to use the totality of that vinasse in the future in order to reach a Bio-NGV production equivalent to 13.2 M gallons of diesel annually (58,000 GGE/52,000 DGE). Besides increasing sustainability along the whole sugar production in Adecoagro, diesel displacement would improve the food company classification in the official Brazilian program RenovaBio, which would allow further income through the emission of decarbonization credits (CBios).

As part of their joint projects, Adecoagro and Galileo Technologies evaluate the construction of a biomethane-based hydrogen (H₂) producing plant in Ivinhema. An H-Patagonia® hydrogen fueling station for fuel-cell propelled vehicles (FCVs) would complement the initiative. This will be a worldwide milestone, since hydrogen will be 100% renewable in its entire life cycle – this is, originated from biomass and free of carbon dioxide (CO₂) carbon emissions in its production, distribution and exhaust emissions which are in turn reduced to water vapor-.

“We trust the results we will achieve with the whole project due to the circular economy size. We will generate energy out of solid (bagasse), liquid (ethanol) and gaseous (biomethane) sources, besides harvesting all the benefits of vinasse as a mineral fertilizer. The advantages are many: 100% renewable process, self-sufficiency, energetic safety, emissions reduction and a higher RenovaBio classification. This transformation in the sugar-energy sector contributes to the global transition towards the future of carbon (emissions) reduction”, said Renato Junqueira Santos Pereira, Adecoagro Vice-President of Sugar, Ethanol and Energy.

“Food production generates 40% of methane emissions in the planet. Our goal with this project is to eliminate this type of emissions from the environment to offer carbon-negative energy”

Osvaldo del Campo, Galileo Technologies CEO

“According to the United Nations, food production generates 40% of methane emissions in the planet with a potential effect over global warming 28 to 36 times greater than carbon dioxide. This means we can cease to use fossil fuels, which represent 35% of methane emissions, but still, if we do not consider our farm activities and organic waste emissions, which contribute to 20%, we will have a great heat retention agent. Our goal with this project is to eliminate this type of emissions from the environment to offer carbon-negative energy”, highlighted Osvaldo del Campo, Galileo Technologies CEO.

“The goal and integration level of both companies is ground-breaking in Bio-NGV and so will be in the hydrogen green production. This gas holds promise, since its consumption only emits water vapor, but only 0.1% of the hydrogen available globally comes from renewable sources and greenhouse effect gases emissions-free processes. Here, we seek to contribute with a completely clean hydrogen from source to consumption”, said del Campo.

About Adecoagro

Based in Luxembourg and with shareholders all over the world, Adecoagro (NYSE: AGRO) is one of the main food and renewable energies producer in South America, present in three countries. Since 2004, the company operates the sugar and ethanol production and power energy co-generation in three industrial units in Brazil: Usina Monte Alegre (MG) and the cluster of Angélica and Ivinhema sugar factories, both located in Mato Grosso do Sul state. Their crushing capacity reaches 13.7 million tons of sugar cane per harvest. With approximately 6,500 employees in Brazil (October 2020), Adecoagro stands out in their low-cost production model, high flexibility and innovative processes, being recognized as one of the most competitive companies globally in the sugar-energy sector.

Source: Jornal Dia Dia, September 1, 2021