Leveraging its abundant renewable energy resources and strategic location, Brazil is well-positioned to emerge as a key global supplier of renewable marine fuels.
A recent study evaluates Brazil’s port infrastructure, fuel demand, and shipping emissions to assess the country’s potential to support zero-emission shipping corridors through renewable hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia and methanol.
The analysis identifies top-performing ports and routes suitable for the early adoption of green fuels in international shipping.
Six Ports Identified as Bunkering Hubs
The study shortlists six candidate ports with high readiness to support renewable fuel bunkering. These include three public ports — Santos, Rio Grande, and Itaqui — and three private ports — Porto do Açu, Pecém, and Navegantes.
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Santos, Latin America’s largest port, scored high in four of five readiness criteria.
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Porto do Açu and Itaqui showed strong potential, especially in infrastructure and location, although they lacked access to offshore wind.
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Readiness scores across the six ports ranged from 3.5 to 4.4 on a 1–5 scale.
Public ports generally scored better due to stronger infrastructure and broader connectivity, making them prime candidates for early investments in renewable fuel facilities.
Renewable Fuels Feasible Across Major Trade Routes
The report examined 10 trade routes connecting the candidate ports to domestic and international markets. Findings show:
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Five routes are feasible for zero-emission operations using renewable liquid hydrogen (RE-LH₂) in fuel cells without refueling.
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All 10 routes can be operated using renewable ammonia (RE-NH₃) and renewable methanol (RE-MeOH) in combustion engines without mid-route bunkering.
This confirms that renewable fuel infrastructure at Brazilian ports can enable a new generation of clean shipping across vital trade corridors.
Emissions Reduction and Energy Demand Insights
The transition to green fuels offers major environmental benefits:
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Current fuel use on the selected routes totals over 4,449 tonnes per trip, emitting 13,862 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
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Switching to renewable hydrogen on these routes would require 1,785 to 1,911 tonnes of hydrogen, equating to 82–92 GWh of renewable electricity.
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This energy demand accounts for only 0.1% of the annual output of the Itaipu Dam and 0.2% of Brazil’s projected renewable hydrogen capacity.
These figures show that even large-scale fuel switching would make minimal impact on Brazil’s overall energy supply, highlighting the country’s capacity for sustainable expansion.
Brazil has a unique opportunity to become a global renewable marine fuel powerhouse. The study not only highlights port readiness and fuel feasibility, but also provides a roadmap for investment and policy direction. With early action, the country can position itself at the forefront of green shipping corridors, transforming maritime trade and contributing meaningfully to global climate goals.
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Source: ICCT
