Petrobras approves installation of renewable energy plants at three refineries

Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) is moving forward with installation of solar photovoltaic plants at three of its Brazilian refineries as part of the company’s ongoing program to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations by 2050.

The Petrobras Decarbonization Fund (PDF) will fund implementation of the photovoltaic plants at the 157,000-b/d Refinaria Gabriel Passos (REGAP) refinery in Betim, Minas Gerais; 88,000-b/d Refinaria Abreu e Lima (RNEST) refinery in Ipojuca, Pernambuco; and 434,000-b/d Refinaria de Paulínia (REPLAN) refinery in Paulínia, São Paulo, the operator said.

Estimated total capacity of the three renewable energy plants will be about 48 Mw, with start-up of each scheduled in 2025, Petrobras confirmed.

These most recently announced decarbonization opportunities are part of a portfolio of 33 total projects currently financed by the PDF that, combined, have capacity to reduce emissions by 1.52 million tonnes/year of CO₂, equivalent to the operational emissions of an entire refinery, the company said.

“The installation of photovoltaic plants integrated into the refinery generation system allows for improved integration and operational reliability, reducing gas consumption and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the company’s strategic planning for a fair energy transition,” said William França da Silva, Petrobras’ director of industrial processes and products.

Created to support initiatives aimed at decarbonizing Petrobras’ operations in exploration and production, refining, gas and energy, and logistics segments, the PDF a has a current budget availability of $1 billion for 2024-28 period, the company said.