Raízen’s Vision for SAF Could Transform Brazil into an Aviation Fuel Superpower

In the 1970s, reeling from a global oil crisis, Brazil launched Pro-Álcool, a pioneering program that turned sugarcane into a national fuel staple. Today, as the world faces a dual crisis of geopolitical instability and climate breakdown, Brazil is dusting off its energy-sovereignty playbook for a new, high-stakes arena: the skies.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is no longer a distant green dream; it is becoming a geopolitical and economic imperative. As airlines grapple with the volatility of jet fuel prices, recently underscored by the bankruptcy filing of US-based Spirit Airlines, and stringent new mandates from the EU and UK, the search for a scalable, low-carbon alternative has reached a fever pitch.

A Sleeping Energy Giant

"We often suffer from 'stray dog syndrome' in Brazil," says Raphaella Gomes, CEO of Raízen-Geo Biogás S.A. and one of the country's most influential voices in energy. "We talk too little about our strengths. We treat biofuels as a 'green agenda' item, but it is actually a strategic pillar for industrial development and international trade."

Gomes argues that Brazil is uniquely positioned to fill a massive global supply gap. By 2035, global demand for SAF is expected to hit 50 billion liters. While the US market is likely to be served by domestic production incentivized by protectionist policies, the European and Asian markets are looking for suppliers. Experts predict a 15-billion-liter shortfall in a decade, a gap Brazil is eager to close.

Why Brazil?

The secret lies in what Gomes calls an "integrated agro-energy chain." Brazil isn't just producing fuel; it’s producing it with a carbon intensity that is hard to beat. Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, for instance, has a carbon footprint significantly lower than its international competitors.

But the revolution goes beyond sugarcane. The state of São Paulo has seen its biomethane production skyrocket, reaching 42.7 million cubic meters in 2025—a third of the national total. This "green gas," derived from agricultural waste and urban landfills, can be converted into SAF via "power-to-liquid" pathways.

"Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions," Gomes explains. "Unlike cars, you can’t easily put a heavy battery on a plane. SAF is the only viable alternative for long-haul flights."

From Necessity to Opportunity

Brazil’s energy journey has always been driven by necessity. Today, the country still imports nearly 90% of its fertilizers and a significant portion of its diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Recent disruptions produced by the US-Iran War and attacks on refineries in Qatar have only highlighted this vulnerability.

However, the same agricultural prowess that makes Brazil dependent on imported fertilizers also provides the "feedstock" for the future. From corn ethanol in the Mato Grosso heartland to biomethane in the outskirts of Campinas, the raw materials for a cleaner sky are already being harvested.

As the Pro-BioQAV (Programa Nacional de Combustível Sustentável de Aviação, in english "National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program") mandate kicks in 2027, requiring a 1% reduction in aviation emissions, Brazil is moving from intention to action. The goal is to produce 2 billion liters of SAF by 2030. In a world hungry for energy security and decarbonization, Brazil’s "green pre-salt" might just be the fuel that keeps the global economy aloft.

Volkswagen also bets on Brazilian biomethane 

Ricardo Alouche, Vice President of Sales at Volkswagen Trucks and Buses, believes Brazil’s truck market will remain resilient throughout 2026 despite high interest rates, restricted credit conditions, and broader economic uncertainties.

According to Alouche, the federal government's Move Brasil financing program has been a key factor supporting truck sales. 

Looking ahead, Volkswagen is preparing several product launches for Fenatran 2026, Brazil’s largest commercial vehicle exhibition. The company also expects the event to focus more on technology, products, and customer relationships than on discounts and sales promotions, as many buyers are already bringing forward purchasing decisions due to favorable financing conditions.

On alternative propulsion technologies, Alouche highlighted growing interest in electric trucks, biomethane-powered vehicles, and hybrid solutions. All of this is an effort by the automaker to try to find solutions for the fluctuations in the fuel market, which affect those who work in the transportation sector. However, Alouche emphasized that adoption will occur gradually due to infrastructure limitations and cost considerations. Volkswagen is currently testing biomethane trucks in urban sanitation operations and advancing development of its hybrid Meteor truck, which is undergoing advanced testing.

Brazil Expands Biomethane Trucks as Renewable Gas Production Surges

Brazil is rapidly expanding its biomethane-powered heavy-duty vehicle fleet and production capacity, positioning the renewable gas as a key component in its energy transition and transport decarbonization strategy.

Biomethane output in São Paulo state alone is projected to surge by 50% in 2026 with the launch of seven new biogas plants, according to industry projections. This expansion is bolstering Brazil's renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure and aims to reduce reliance on diesel in freight transportation.

Swedish manufacturer Scania, an early entrant, is now facing competition from Chinese automaker JAC Motors, which is introducing new gas-powered heavy trucks. Brazilian logistics firm Green Cargo plans to deploy between 150 and 200 biomethane trucks over the next 12 months, partnering with major corporations including JBS, Suzano, Veracel, and Eldorado for vehicle validation.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus is also contributing, with its new Constellation Biomethane model joining the fleet of EcoUrbis, a São Paulo waste management concessionaire. The vehicle, customized for solid waste collection, can cut CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to diesel models, the manufacturer stated.

In a significant investment, Brazilian engine maker MWM and Vamos Group, a leading truck and machinery rental company, are jointly investing 150 million Brazilian reais ($30 million) in a project to convert diesel trucks to operate on biogas. Vamos plans to deliver the first 100 converted units to Rio de Janeiro's municipal sanitation company, Comlurb, in the first quarter.

Experts highlight biomethane's strategic role in energy security, as it is domestically produced from local waste streams, offering stability against geopolitical factors affecting fossil natural gas. Academic research is focusing on upgrading biogas to biomethane and integrating plants into circular bio-refineries, further supporting technological development and sustainability standards.

Strategic Benefits of Biomethane

• Energy Security: Biomethane is domestically produced from local waste, reducing dependence on imports and geopolitical factors
• Economic Impact: Stabilizes energy prices, supports rural development, and creates qualified jobs
• Environmental: Reduces nitrate pollution, minimizes odors, and provides biofertilizer from digestate

Scale Considerations: Medium-sized biomethane plants offer the optimal balance between efficiency and environmental management. Small plants in small cities sometimes lack technical expertise or lack of qualified professionals in Brazil, while very large facilities face logistical challenges.

Transportation Applications: Biomethane trucks reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining performance comparable to diesel vehicles. When produced at scale, biomethane can be price-competitive with fossil natural gas.

Brazil's Strategy

As Brazil expands biomethane production, renewable gas is becoming central to the country's decarbonization strategy, connecting waste management, energy independence, and sustainable freight transport.

Increasing sales of electric cars in Europe lead Volkswagen to shift its combustion engine production to Brazil and Argentina

Motivated by the wave of electrification of European cars, Volkswagen decided to transfer part of its production of combustion engines from Germany to factories in San Carlos, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Cordoba, Argentina, where the electric car segment still crawling, according to Pablo Di Si, president of the automaker for South America.

This shows that while the global automotive industry is going towards its "electrification", Brazil's automotive market still has few electric car models. There are currently 4 electric models and some hybrids. This means that the Brazilian market will lag behind the industry's technological innovations for some time.

Thus, we will continue driving excessively expensive cars that pollute the environment for years to come.

German company leads the truck market in Brazil in 2019

Volkswagen Trucks and Buses (VWCO, in the acronym in Portuguese) led the truck sales in four of the five segments analyzed by the Brazilian National Association of Trucks, and Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea), in February 2019.

In the accumulated of the year, three of the five most sold trucks in the Brazilian market are from Volkswagen.

This leadership is a direct result of Volkswagen Trucks and Buses' decision to invest R$ 1.5 billion between 2017 and 2021 at the Resende plant in Rio de Janeiro. Currently, the Resende plant employs about three thousand employees and is the company's worldwide production and development center for trucks.

Paulo Guedes, Brazilian Minister of the Economy, denies requests from automakers and maintains free trade in auto parts with Mexico

Brazil is one of the largest car producers in the world. In February 2019, the country produced 257.2 thousand cars light commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses, accumulating a growth of 5.3% in the first two months of the year, reaching 455.3 thousand units.

Paradoxically, car prices in Brazil are among the highest in the world. In some cases, there are cars that cost more than 100% than in other countries. Among the main reasons for such prices are the very high-profit margins of resellers, taxes and infrastructure problems in the country.

The current Minister of Economy of Brazil believes that some of these problems can be solved with more economic openness.

Last March 29, in a meeting with representatives of the country's three largest automakers (General Motors, Fiat and Volkswagen), Guedes said he would not reestablish the quota system that regulated the automotive trade between Brazil and Mexico, believing that it was time for the country to open its economy.

The representatives of the automakers were criticized by government officials during the meeting, who would have said that the automakers had received R$ 20 billion in subsidies in the last five years. Since March 19, cars and auto parts circulate between Brazil and Mexico without import tariff. Now, the two countries will be able to export and import those products without any barriers.

The Brazilian sectors of Foundries, Auto parts and Assemblers will face a real "competition shock", since these sectors in Mexico are among the most competitive in the world. Therefore, there is a fear on the part of the Brazilian automakers that the parent companies prefer to invest in Mexico instead of Brazil.

In February 2019, Ford announced the closure of its São Bernardo plant in the state of São Paulo, where 3,000 people work, and the company's exit from the South American truck market. Thus, the company's North American headquarters decided to close its subsidiary in São Bernardo.