At COP30, FIEPA panel highlights the importance of biomass for the energy transition in the Amazon.

The potential of biomass as a pathway to a just and low-carbon energy transition was the focus of a panel held this Thursday, the 14th, at the Pará Pavilion in the Green Zone, during COP30. The activity is part of the COP+ Journey program, a multi-sectoral movement led by the Federation of Industries of the State of Pará (FIEPA), and brought together experts and representatives from the productive sector to discuss sustainable solutions for the development of the Amazon.

The panel addressed opportunities and challenges for boosting the Amazonian bioeconomy, highlighting the role of biomass in generating clean energy, valuing regional resources, and promoting an inclusive and sustainable energy transition. The conversation was led by the manager of the FIEPA Industry Observatory, Felipe Freitas, who emphasized how Brazil is a benchmark in energy matrix. "Brazil is a world reference in the way its energy matrix is composed, with its diverse components such as hydroelectric power, biomass, solar energy, and electricity," he explained.

During the panel, Aldo Leite, commercial consultant for Alternative Fuels at Verdera, a brand that is part of the Votorantim Cimentos group, explained how the company focuses its efforts on purchasing biomass and other materials to replace fossil fuels in cement production. "Today, coal and petroleum coke are still part of Votorantim's energy matrix, but we have a goal of progressively replacing these fuels by 2030 and 2040," he stated.

Currently, the company uses açaí seeds, wood chips, sawdust, and briquettes. Leite stated that the waste market has changed and that, in the case of açaí, specialized companies collect, dry, and supply the material to the company. "For many, waste is no longer a problem. It has become a product with added value," he emphasized.

Another central point of the debate was the role of carbon markets and traceability as pillars for the advancement of the bioeconomy. Leonardo Almeida, carbon project coordinator at Biofílica Ambipar, presented an overview of the company's activities and the evolution of the environmental credit market. "The company works with nature-based solutions, mainly in the carbon market and environmental regularization through quotas and leases of legal reserves," he stated.

According to the coordinator, the company's objective is to generate a positive socio-environmental impact, unlocking capital for conservation. "We know that there is no conservation without valuing environmental assets. The idea is to contribute to the socio-environmental agenda through financial mechanisms," he explained.

When discussing the use of biomass and the application of green building concepts in the Amazon, Marcos Martins, president of SINDIMÓVEIS, explained how waste originating from the processing of native wood, especially exported hardwood species, has become a fundamental input for the sector. "The waste generated by the forestry base, which many see as discarded material, is not waste for us, but raw material for the development of our products," he said.

The union, which brings together companies from various municipalities in Pará, has sought to strengthen innovation and reuse initiatives. "We have implemented projects in partnership with city halls, working on the reuse of waste with local communities and investing in design and technological innovation to create new products," he concluded.