Wartsila and Energetica Suape II Partner for World’s First Ethanol-Fuelled Power Engine Trial

Technology group Wartsila has partnered with Brazil’s Energetica Suape II S.A., a Grupo Economico 4M company, to test ethanol, a sugarcane-derived biofuel, as a clean power source for large-scale electricity generation. The groundbreaking trial will take place at the Suape II power plant in Recife, Brazil.

The project, booked by Wartsilain Q1 2025, will see the world’s first ethanol-powered engine trialled for grid-scale electricity generation. The initiative is part of Wartsila's WISE (Wide and Intelligent Sustainable Energy) programme, co-funded by Business Finland, the Finnish government’s innovation agency.

Brazil, the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugarcane-based ethanol, has long used it as a transport fuel. However, its application in electricity generation has remained largely untapped, something this collaboration aims to change.

“This initiative could be a game-changer in advancing sustainable energy solutions and shaping the future of clean power generation in Brazil,” said Anders Lindberg, President, Wartsila Energy. “Ethanol is a locally available, readily transportable, and scalable solution that can help reduce emissions and fossil fuel dependency.”

Carlos Alberto Mansur Filho, shareholder at Grupo Econômico 4M, was the driving force behind the partnership, selecting Wärtsilä for its innovation and clean energy expertise. “By including flexible and sustainable solutions like ethanol-based power, Brazil can deliver affordable and reliable energy to its people,” said Mansur.

Under the agreement, Wartsila will operate up to 4,000 hours of testing on its Wärtsilä 32M engine between April 2026 and 2028. The project aligns with Brazil’s decision to include ethanol as an approved fuel in the country’s June 2025 reserve energy capacity auction.

“This project aims to demonstrate the role ethanol could play in Brazil’s future power mix,” said Jose Faustino Candido, CTO of Energetica Suape II S.A. “It’s a major step towards utilising an existing, sustainable resource for clean energy.”

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the use of biofuels like ethanol must nearly double by 2030 to meet global Net Zero goals. This trial could serve as a global model for leveraging biofuels to provide dispatchable, low-emissions electricity alongside variable renewables like solar and wind.

Wartsila will also oversee the engine’s operations under a renewed Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement with Energetica Suape II, extending through the plant’s current power purchase agreement (PPA) until the end of 2026.