Technology group Wärtsilä has announced a partnership with Brazilian energy company Energetica Suape II S.A., majority-owned by Grupo Econômico 4M, to conduct a world-first trial utilizing ethanol as a large-scale power generation fuel. The ambitious project, set to take place at the Suape II power station in Recife, Brazil, will test the world's first ethanol-fueled engine for electricity generation.

The trial, booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2025, aims to demonstrate the viability and potential of ethanol, a biofuel predominantly produced from sugarcane, as a reliable and clean power source. Brazil, the world's leading producer and user of sugarcane-derived ethanol, stands to benefit significantly from this initiative.

Under the agreement, Wärtsilä will conduct up to 4,000 hours of tests on the Wärtsilä 32M engine over two years, beginning in April 2026. This comprehensive testing period aims to ensure the engine's reliable and efficient operation. This trial could lead to a large scale adoption of ethanol as an energy fuel within Brazil.

The partnership, driven by Carlos Alberto Mansur Filho, shareholder of Grupo Econômico 4M, reflects a shared commitment to innovation and clean energy. Mansur's established relationship with Wärtsilä, coupled with their expertise in developing future-proof engines, made them the ideal partner for this pioneering project.

The trial's significance is underscored by the International Energy Agency's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario, which projects a near doubling of global biofuel usage, including ethanol, by 2030. This transition from approximately 700 TWh of electricity generation in 2023 to around 1,250 TWh in 2030 highlights the crucial role biofuels can play in complementing variable renewable energy sources and providing dispatchable, low-emissions power.

The trial is part of the company's WISE (Wide and Intelligent Sustainable Energy) programme, co-funded by Business Finland, the Finnish government's trade, investment promotion, and innovation funding agency.

José Faustino Cândido, Chief Technology Officer at Energetica Suape II S.A., stated, "Brazil is a world leader in ethanol production, but its potential use in electricity generation has up to now been overlooked. This project aims to change that by delivering thousands of hours of testing, which we hope will demonstrate the role that ethanol could play in Brazil’s future power system."

Anders Lindberg, President of Wärtsilä Energy, said, "This initiative could be a game-changer in advancing sustainable energy solutions and shaping the future of clean power generation in Brazil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing dependence on fossil fuel imports. Ethanol could also play an important role in the decarbonisation of the electricity sector, as it is readily available today and can be easily transported globally, making it a truly accessible and scalable solution."