Researchers at the Maua Institute of Technology in Brazil will begin tests to investigate the viability of raising the country’s biodiesel blend to 20% in May, according to a Reuters report quoting the manager of the institute’s vehicles division.
Brazil, which produces biofuels from raw materials including soya and sugarcane, currently has a biodiesel blending mandate of 15% biodiesel in diesel and 30% ethanol in gasoline.
However, global energy disruption caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran had led to calls in the South American country to raise the blending mandates and reduce reliance on fossil fuels and imported energy sources, the 23 April report said.
“The idea is to start in May,” Renato Romio told Reuters on the day of the report.
During the first phase, biodiesel blends of 15% (B15) and 20% (B20) would be tested, with plans to run tests on the first engine in May, Romio added.
Engines would be tested for 300 hours to monitor filter clogging, injection system behaviour and to inspect the injector nozzle, Romio said, adding that the second phase of testing would also analyse emissions of pollutants in diesel blended with 7% and 25% biodiesel.
“In addition [to B15 and B20], we’ll conduct emissions tests with B7 and B25, but … the … long-term road tests will be with B15 and B20,” Romio explained.
The planned tests were positive for the industry, according to Daniel Amaral, director of economics and regulatory affairs at the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (Abiove).
“It will certainly open the door to blends higher than B15 (and) up to B20, which presents a very promising scenario for the sector,” Amaral said.
