en.Wedoany.com Reported - Brazil's Energy Research Company (EPE) has expanded the mapping of potential areas for carbon capture, transport, utilization, and storage (CCUS) nationwide, a move aimed at strengthening the role of this technology in Brazil's energy transition and industrial decarbonization strategy. The state-owned enterprise, linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, released an updated version of its technical manual, revising previous analyses and introducing new methodological criteria to identify regions best suited for developing geological carbon dioxide storage projects.
EPE stated that its goal is to provide technical references for national energy planning and the formulation of public policies geared towards a low-carbon economy. The study also aims to support Brazil's future territorial planning for CO₂-related activities. The publication highlights the growing international importance of carbon capture and storage technology, particularly for sectors considered hard-to-abate, such as steel, cement, refining, fertilizers, and heavy industry.
A key focus of the study is identifying regions where geological factors and logistical conditions are more favorable for deploying CCUS projects. According to EPE's conclusions, Brazil's logistical infrastructure, historically concentrated in the coastal areas of the Southeast and Northeast, favors the development of large-scale carbon capture and transport hubs, particularly via pipelines and port facilities. The study notes that the combination of industrial emission sources, existing infrastructure, and areas with suitable geological potential increases the probability of project economic viability.
At the same time, the state-owned enterprise warned that extending this infrastructure to inland regions would require significant investment, in addition to a clearer regulatory framework and instruments capable of reducing financial risks for entrepreneurs. According to the document, the challenges Brazil faces are similar to those internationally, where transport and geological storage are typically the main bottlenecks in the CCUS chain due to high capital expenditures and complex regulations.
Among the study's most important conclusions, EPE emphasized the strategic potential of the bioenergy sector in developing so-called "negative emissions." The document points out that Brazil has particularly favorable conditions for expanding BECCS projects—a technology that combines bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. According to the state-owned enterprise's assessment, the availability of sustainable biomass, the technological maturity of the sugar-energy sector, and the historical integration of bioenergy and climate policies place Brazil in an advantageous position to develop this technological pathway.
The study also indicates that emissions from so-called "hard-to-abate" sectors remain highly concentrated in Brazil's Southeast, while the Northeast and South serve as secondary industrial emission hubs. This geographical pattern reinforces the logic of creating regional hubs near large industrial clusters.
EPE stated that the methodological advances implemented have improved the resolution capacity of the national CCUS map, expanding its utility for guiding investment and planning decisions. The study concludes that Brazil possesses favorable conditions to advance carbon capture and storage pathways applicable to the energy and industrial sectors, with synergies with other decarbonization strategies. Nevertheless, the document emphasizes that the consolidation of this market will depend on the coordinated acceleration of public policies, risk mitigation mechanisms, and incentives for pioneering projects. As a next step, the state-owned enterprise plans to advance more detailed quantitative assessments of storage capacity and capture potential, deepening technical knowledge on the subject and strengthening Brazil's position in the global climate solutions market.
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