Brazilian state-owned oil and gas titan Petrobras unveiled plans on Friday to embark on a transformative journey towards decarbonization, announcing the installation of 48 MW of solar energy capacity across three of its key refineries under the ambit of its Decarbonization Fund.
Scheduled for operational commencement in 2025, the photovoltaic (PV) projects are slated to be deployed at the Gabriel Passos (Regap) refinery in Minas Gerais, the Abreu e Lima (Rnest) refinery in Pernambuco, and the Paulinia (Replan) refinery in Sao Paulo.
“The installation of photovoltaic plants integrated into the refinery generation system allows for improved integration and operational reliability, reducing gas consumption and, consequently, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in line with the company's strategic planning for a just energy transition,” emphasized William Franca da Silva, Director of Industrial Processes and Products at Petrobras.
Highlighting the broader impact of these initiatives, Petrobras underscored that the trio of projects forms part of a comprehensive portfolio comprising 33 schemes financed by the Decarbonization Fund. This concerted effort is projected to offset a staggering 1.52 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, effectively equivalent to the emissions of an entire refinery.
At present, the Decarbonization Fund boasts a robust USD 1 billion (EUR 939 million) budget allocated for the period spanning 2024 to 2028, underlining Petrobras' steadfast commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and spearheading the transition towards a greener, more resilient future.
