Atvos is the first biomass company to receive a renewable energy certificate

Atvos is the first biomass generator to receive the International Renewable Energy Certificate. Awarded for the Conquista do Pontal Unit, the seal enables the company to issue International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) in the market. Located in Mirante do Paranapanema, São Paulo, the unit sells every crop year 360,000 MWh of surplus power generated from sugarcane bagasse.

Coordinated by the Totum Institute, the certification program seeks to foster the market for energy produced from clean sources and with high performance in terms of sustainability. “The purpose of the certificates is to reduce CO2 emissions generated by energy consumption by attesting to the renewable origin of the resources. Through this product alone, we avoid 1.2 million tons of CO2 emissions annually.

This means that companies committed to climate issues have an easily accessible solution at competitive prices,” said Mônica Alcântara, Sustainability Director at Atvos.

The I-REC is an international transaction platform that allows consumers to buy certificates of verified renewable energy in order to offset CO2 emissions from the consumption of fossil-based energy or energy generated from sources that are difficult to certify. This makes it possible for large energy-intensive companies to meet their targets for increasing the share of renewable in their energy profile without the need to invest in internal power generation. Each I-REC corresponds to 1 MWh of electricity produced from renewable sources.

“It is very important that the market has yet another source of renewable energy, given that consumer demand has grown, not to mention that the certificates add value to the image of the organization acquiring them,” said Fernando Lopes, managing partner at the Totum Institute.

As explained by Luiz Henrique Dias, head of the Energy area at Atvos, the seal is a guarantee to clients that the Conquista do Pontal Unit meets sustainability criteria in terms of social, environmental and community-relations aspects, while incorporating all of the environmental aspects. “Since we co-generate around 2,000 GWh of electricity every crop year at all our units, this market has excellent and growing potential,” he said.

­­Brazil is the world’s most advance country in biofuels and has the world’s cleanest energy profile. In terms of volume, the country is the second-largest global producer of ethanol and biodiesel and has great potential to increase the use of renewable resources in its total energy consumption, considering other bioenergy resources.

About Atvos
Founded in 2007, Atvos produces and trades hydrous and anhydrous ethanol, VHP sugar and electricity from biomass. The company has nine agroindustrial units in four Brazilian states (Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo) and focuses its operations on the tripod of competitiveness, sustainability and valuing people.

About Totum
The Totum Institute is a certifying organization operating in the market of independent audit and self-regulation seals and programs since 2006, managing over one dozen certification seals and programs in various industries. It offers its clients integrated solutions that extend from the conception to the execution of projects to integrate and develop business chains through industry seals and certifications.