Room: Poster Area
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 17:30 - 18:30 CEST
Session code 2CV.10
Biofuels and GHG implications
Ethanol as a Strategic Enabler for Sustainable Transport Decarbonization
Short Introductive summary
Developed under the framework of IEA Bioenergy Task 39, this study assesses the global contribution of ethanol to transport decarbonization, combining life-cycle, policy, and end-use analysis. Ethanol currently accounts for nearly 90% of avoided oil demand from biofuels with blending mandates established in 57 countries. Case studies from Brazil, India, and the USA show that sustainable production systems—supported by RenovaBio, RFS, and LCFS frameworks—achieve 75–85% GHG reductions with strong socio-economic co-benefits. At the end-use level, ethanol’s high octane and clean-combustion properties enable hybrid bioelectric vehicles (HEV100) with life-cycle emissions as low as 77.5 g CO2e/km. Potential expansion of production and use was evaluated in emerging markets and demonstrate ethanol’s strategic role in the Global South, complementing electrification as a cost-effective, regionally adaptable, and enduring pathway for sustainable mobility.
Presenter
Glaucia MENDES SOUZA
University of São Paulo, Instituto de Química, BRAZIL
Presenter's biography
Dr. Glaucia Mendes Souza is a Full Professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of São Paulo (USP) and Leader of the Biofuels for the Decarbonization of Transport Task Force (Task 39) of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy TCP.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
L.A. Horta Nogueira, Federal University of Itajubá, BRAZIL
R. Rossetto, Agronomical Institute of Campinas, BRAZIL
Session reference: 2CV.10.5