Energy efficiency is a material topic for Bracell, encompassing efficient energy consumption from clean (renewable) sources.

We invest in processes and technologies to ensure the efficient use of energy in our operations, prioritizing renewable sources of generation. The company has targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and policies and actions to mitigate this impact, aiming to establish low-carbon production.

Reducing energy intensity, efficient energy use, and investing in a low-carbon matrix are Bracell initiatives to ease its greenhouse gas emissions (see more in GRI Content 305). 

Bracell’s plants in Bahia and São Paulo are energy self-sufficient. The company has recovery boilers that produce the steam fed to turbine-generator sets to generate electricity.

In the mills, national grid energy is only used occasionally during general maintenance stoppages.  Energy is also purchased for forestry operations and nurseries, where diesel also fuels power generators.

Renewable generation

The new flexible lines in Lençóis Paulista (SP) are equipped with a biomass boiler that generates renewable energy from eucalyptus biomass, composed of trimmings from the plant and other substances originating from the production of dissolving pulp, including black liquor.

These lines were developed to operate free of fossil fuels and to generate clean energy for the Brazilian market, which receives the surplus from Bracell’s mill.

The site has a 440kV substation with an installed capacity of 409 MW, enough to supply electricity to the mill and a surplus of approximately 150 to 180 MW that is sold to the national grid, enough to supply clean renewable electricity to around 750,000 homes or approximately 3 million people.

In 2023, Bracell received International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) as proof that the electricity sold from its on-site generation facilities in Lençóis Paulista (SP) is renewably sourced.

In 2023, the historical energy consumption data within the organization’s São Paulo operations were reviewed.  In 2022, grid energy was consumed despite industrial energy generation. Calculation standards were rectified for 2021 data.

HISTORICAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION¹ (GJ)
	2021	2022	2023
Bahia1	1,561,590.00	1,579,433.51	1,541,824.41
São Paulo	1,955,354.26	5,828,717.43	6,248,231.36
Total	3,516,944.26	7,408,150.94	7,790,055.77

1. The total consumption of non-renewable fuel sources includes consumption of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The total consumption of renewable sources includes Black Liquor.

Generation Output (GJ)
	2021	2022	2023
Bahia	1,429,909.20	1,262,907.28	1,066,178.70
São Paulo	1,784,658.89	8,896,430.99	9,387,409.61
Bracell	3,214,568.09	10,159,338.27	10,453,588.31

 

Purchased Energy (GJ)
	2021	2022	2023
Bahia	204,426.00	348,790.00	486,127.30
São Paulo	608,902.91	112,990.60	367,038.00
Bracell	813,328.91	461,780.60	853,165.30

 

Electricity Sold (GJ)
	2021	2022	2023
Bahia	72,745.20	32,263.77	10,481.59
São Paulo	438,207.54	3,180,704.16	3,506,216.24
Bracell	510,952.74	3,212,967.93	3,516,697.83

In 2022, the energy consumption outside of Bracell’s operation was 856,165.30 GJ.

Energy consumption outside of the organization (GJ)	2021	2022	2023
São Paulo	204,426.00	348,790.00	367,038.30
Bahia	608,902.91	112,990.60	486,127.30
Total	813,328.91	461,780.60	853,165.30

Note: the data regarding Scope 3 emissions is reported in GRI Disclosure 305-2.

The energy intensity of our industrial operation in Bahia state in 2023 was 3.27 Gj/adt and 2.07 GJ/adt São Paulo state. These values consider the total production of 471,817 tons in Bahia and 3,012,404 tons in São Paulo.  Only the electricity consumption by milling was included in the calculation.

Energy intensity (GJ/adt)
Operation	2021	2022	2023
Bahia	3.32	3.29	3.27
São Paulo	2.39	1.99	2.07
Bracell	2.73	2.17	2.24

 

Bracell’s energy consumption in 2023 was 7,790,055.77 GJ, an increase of 4.9% over 2022. In Bahia operations, energy consumption fell by 37,609 GJ, while there was an increase of 419,514 GJ in São Paulo operations.

The energy intensity including industrial consumption increased from 2.17 GJ/adt in 2022 to 2.24 Gj/adt (see more in GRI Disclosure 302-3).

Comparison between energy consumption in 2023 and 2022
Operation	GJ	%
Bahia	-37,609.10	-2.4
São Paulo	+ 419,513.93	+ 6.7
Total	+ 381,904.83	+ 4.9

Bracell’s energy consumption in 2023 was 7,790,055.77 GJ, an increase of 4.9% over 2022. In Bahia operations, energy consumption fell by 37,609 GJ, while there was an increase of 419,514 GJ in São Paulo operations.

The energy intensity including industrial consumption increased from 2.17 GJ/adt in 2022 to 2.24 Gj/adt (see more in GRI Disclosure 302-3).

Comparison between energy consumption in 2023 and 2022
Operation	GJ	%
Bahia	-37,609.10	-2.4
São Paulo	+ 419,513.93	+ 6.7
Total	+ 381,904.83	+ 4.9

In 2023, Bracell’s energy consumption was 7,790,055 GJ. Purchased energy stood at 11% or 853,165 GJ.

Regarding the energy generated from eucalyptus biomass, the total value generated for the year was 10,453,588 GJ.  Bracell also consumes diesel oil in generators for forestry operations (see more in GRI Content 302).

HISTORICAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION¹ (GJ)
	2021	2022	2023
Bahia	1,561,590.00	1,579,433.51	1,541,824.41
São Paulo	1,955,354.26	5,828,717.43	6,248,231.36
Total	3,516,944.26	7,408,150.94	7,790,055.77

NB: ¹Forestry Unit only. “purchased energy” + “generated energy” – “energy sold” was counted.