World's First Ethanol-Fired Power Plant Opens in Brazil

Brazil’s federal energy company, Petrobras, on Tuesday opened the world’s first ethanol-fired power plant. 

The 87 megawatts (MW) plant was constructed with two GE (NYSE: GE) natural gas turbines, one of which was modified to burn the country’s abundant supply of sugarcane-based ethanol.

The operation, at the Juiz de Fora Power Plant, is a significant milestone for Brazil, which is working to build a larger market for sugarcane ethanol. Currently the US and other developed countries have an import tariff on the fuel to protect domestic production.

Ethanol derived from sugarcane in Brazil is one of the most efficient biofuels in terms of energy balance and carbon emissions. The benefits of this alternative fuel are substantial: it is a renewable energy source and its combustion reduces atmospheric emissions, especially NOX.

The Juiz de Fora Power Plant is located in the south of Minas Gerais state, approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro. The plant has two GE LM6000 gas turbines, one of whose combustors has been modified by GE to enable the use of ethanol, making it dual-fuel (ethanol and natural gas). This enhances the plant’s energy security and reliability by providing a valuable alternative fuel source for the power plant that previously had only one available fuel.

As the world’s second largest producer of ethanol and the world’s largest exporter, Brazil produced 26.9 billion liters (or about 7.3 billion U.S. gallons) in 2008, according to data provided by the Federal Government.

There will be five months of demonstration runs to validate the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel, as well as to ensure that emissions are within the expected limits. GE is providing the conversion technology, engineering and field support during conversion and commissioning.

“This kind of collaboration demonstrates the exciting developments that can be achieved to provide economic, environmental and local solutions for our customers,” said Darryl L. Wilson, president and CEO—Aeroderivative Gas Turbines for GE Power & Water.

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