Biomethane gains ground as Brazil looks to decarbonize heavy-duty transport

Biomethane is emerging as a practical option for cutting emissions from Brazil’s truck fleet because it can use part of the country’s existing gas infrastructure. A new study and recent policy moves suggest the fuel could scale faster than other low-carbon alternatives, especially for long-haul freight and municipal fleets.

Why it matters: - Brazil’s heavy-duty transport sector is a major emissions source, and biomethane can cut diesel use without requiring a wholly new fuel network. - The fuel can tap existing gas pipelines and refueling stations, which lowers the barrier to entry compared with many other decarbonization options. - Freight transport is one of the clearest near-term use cases because trucks run high mileage and need high-energy-density fuels.

What happened: - A new study, From Waste to Wheels: Turning Organic Waste into Renewable Fuel for Transport, identifies biomethane as a mature and potentially cost-competitive solution for road transport decarbonization. - Instituto MBCBrasil commissioned the study. - Researchers from the University of São Paulo, Federal University of Itajubá, Agronomic Institute of Campinas and Mauá Institute of Technology authored the report. - The study focuses on heavy-duty and long-haul freight as the strongest applications for biomethane. - The article argues that biomethane is positioned to expand Brazil’s low-carbon transport toolkit.

The details: - Abegás says Brazil already has 1,752 CNG refueling stations, about 2.6 million converted vehicles and 706 accredited vehicle conversion companies. - Abegás also says that market generated BRL 8.7 billion in savings for users in 2022. - The current network was built mainly for light-duty vehicles, but the heavy-duty segment is growing. - Abegás projected 45 new stations equipped to refuel trucks would be operating by the end of 2025. - Brazil’s transport sector accounted for 38% of total energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, or about 196.5 million tonnes of CO₂, according to a study from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. - Trucks represented 40% of that transport-related emissions total. - The study says replacing diesel with biomethane in heavy-duty transport can reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions by 45% to 75% on a well-to-wheel basis. - Emissions results depend on feedstock, technology and the specific application. - José Eduardo Luzzi, chairman of the board of Instituto MBCBrasil, said the study shows biomethane is ready for deployment across different markets and can accelerate investment and public policy.

Between the lines: - Brazil already has a policy foundation for biomethane market growth. - The National Program for the Decarbonization of Natural Gas Producers and Importers and for the Promotion of Biomethane created the Biomethane Guarantee of Origin Certificate, or CGOB. - Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels has already regulated the certificate. - The National Energy Policy Council set an initial emissions-reduction target for the natural gas market through biomethane use, creating a demand signal before large-scale projects fully launch. - São Paulo is becoming a test case for municipal adoption. - The city launched the BioSP program in September 2025 to gradually add biomethane to public transport and waste-collection fleets. - BioSP aims to replace more than 600 diesel trucks by 2027. - The city already has 125 waste-collection trucks running on biomethane made from landfill gas. - São Paulo plans to expand biomethane procurement from private suppliers under its Climate Change Plan. - The main constraint is scale, not technical readiness. - Wider adoption will require more production, refueling and distribution infrastructure, more investment and supportive regulation.

What’s next: - Biomethane growth will depend on coordination among producers, distributors, vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators and public authorities. - New production projects, truck-ready refueling stations and supply contracts will be needed to move from pilots to broader deployment. - Municipal fleet adoption in São Paulo could provide an early model for other Brazilian cities.

The bottom line: - Biomethane is no longer a theoretical option for Brazil’s heavy-duty transport decarbonization. - The fuel has infrastructure advantages, policy support and early market traction, but scaling it will require sustained investment and execution.