BRAZIL DEBUTS PIONEERING ETHANOL POWER PLANT

The Suape II Thermal Power Plant in Pernambuco is set to become the world’s first facility to generate electricity primarily using ethanol. Operated by Suape Energia in partnership with Finland’s Wärtsilä, the project aims to shift from fuel oil to a renewable energy source. A modified W32M engine, adapted for ethanol, will be installed by September 2025, with operational trials starting in February 2026. Currently rated at 381 MW, the plant’s capacity could expand to 600 MW, sufficient to supply 2 million households, pending successful testing and auction qualification. The switch to ethanol is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by up to 3,600 tons per hour and generate approximately 2,000 jobs. Ethanol will be sourced mainly from Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata region and other northeastern states, strengthening Brazil’s biofuel supply chain.
Source: DATAGRO / UDOP (*Translated by Ia Niani)