Bioenergy in South America: Directions and Challenges for Biofuels

Abstract

Biofuels have become a global interest for many private and public investors, since, in several European countries, bioenergy is considered a part of the energy matrix. However, South America is entering the same path, promoting, and applying policies to produce liquid and gaseous biofuels, so that they are developed in a more environmentally friendly way, have a social impact, and are economically sustainable. It could represent a strategic opportunity for the development of the entire southern continent’s energy matrix, in addition to the fact that biofuels can be an ally in the fight against climate change and stimulate economic development, reducing rural poverty and promoting more integrated and efficient agricultural systems. This work aims to demonstrate the existence of bioenergy in South America, its state of the art in the countries, updated information, production, use of biofuels, and showing the policies applied throughout these years, to provide an information base.