طاقة بديلة

We have been investing in renewables for many years –- and our focus today is on biofuels, biopower, wind energy and solar energy

Renewables are the fastest-growing energy source in the world today and we estimate that they could provide at least 15% of the global energy mix by 2040.

As part of our approach to building our alternative energy business, we aim to grow our existing businesses and to develop new businesses and partnerships to deliver competitive value in the fastest-growing energy sector.

Solar energy

Solar could generate 12% of total global power by 2040, in a scenario based on recent trends. That could grow to 21% in a scenario consistent with the Paris climate goals.

We have a 43% share in Lightsource BP and plan to invest $200 million over a three-year period. Lightsource BP aims to play a vital role in shaping the future of global energy delivery by developing substantial solar capacity around the world, and we are working with Lightsource BP to expand its global presence.

Biofuels

We believe that biofuels offer one of the best large-scale solutions to reduce emissions in the transportation system.

Our strategy is enabled by: 

• Safe and reliable operations – continuing to drive improvements in safety performance.
• Driving quality and improved efficiency in our feedstock – concentrating our efforts in Brazil, which has one of the most cost-competitive biofuel sources in the world.
• Domestic and international markets – selling ethanol and sugar domestically in Brazil and to international markets such as the US. 

Renewable products

Butamax®, our 50/50 joint venture with DuPont, has developed technology that converts sugars from corn into bio-isobutanol, an energy-rich bio product. Bio-isobutanol has a wide variety of applications. For example, it can be used in the production of paints, coatings and lubricant components. It can also be blended with gasoline at higher concentrations than ethanol, which can be transported through existing fuel pipelines and infrastructure. Butamax® has upgraded its ethanol facility in Kansas to produce bio-isobutanol.

Biopower

We create biopower from bagasse, the fibre that remains after crushing sugar cane stalks. In 2018 our three biofuels manufacturing facilities produced around 892GWh of electricity – enough renewable energy to power all of these sites, with the remaining 70% exported to the local electricity grid.

This is a low carbon power source, with part of the CO2 emitted from burning bagasse offset by the CO2 absorbed by sugar cane during its growth.