PHOTO JOURNEY:

Dialogue: Sustainable Energy in Brazil

featuring Northeastern University

During this month-long “Dialogues of Civilization” program held in São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, and Angra dos Reis, students explored Brazil’s robust renewable energy sector and its various alternative energy technologies in a country that generates over 80% of its electricity from renewable sources.

This immersive global experience enabled students to engage with Brazilian culture through lectures and cultural activities while collaborating on a case design project with Brazilian engineering students for Combio, one of the largest companies in Brazil’s renewable energy sector. Students also learned basic Portuguese, visited historical museums, and even tried Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art combining elements of dance, music, and acrobatics.

We would like to thank Prof. Courtney Pfluger for her long-time partnership and her role as a global educator and ambassador for such an important cause. Since 2013, Courtney has been leading students on “Dialogue of Civilizations” visits to Brazil. Her dedication and impact on the lives of hundreds of students and organizations have earned her well-deserved awards and academic recognition.

In this photojourney, we highlight a day of interactions that were part of this incredible journey of international education!

Interaction:

Usina Iracema

The day began with a visit to a São Martinho Group plant, so that students could understand how sugarcane bagasse is generated in the sugar production process. São Martinho S.A is one of the largest sugar-energy groups in Brazil, with four plants, a milling capacity of 24 million tons of sugarcane, and highly mechanized operations. The group has over 12,000 employees, and an agricultural harvest area that covers 350,000 hectares – twice the size of London.

The Usina Iracema, located in Iracemápolis (SP), is a plant with over 70 years of experience in ethanol and sugar production, capable of processing 3 million tons of sugarcane per harvest, benefiting from its proximity to the Port of Santos for exports. Recently, the plant received investments for industrial modernization and training its over 2,000 employees.

The visit continued to the Eco Forte sawmill where it was possible to see the transformation of eucalyptus into wood chips.

“It was very interesting to see the students’ commitment to the challenges proposed, and gratifying to see the level of detail they went into to find solutions to the problems. Many interesting ideas emerged. We remember that the problems we present are not fictitious, they are real and are happening right now. Some of the ideas can undoubtedly be applied to current and future projects.”

Interaction:

ComBio Energy S.A

ComBio promotes decarbonization in the industry by replacing fossil fuels with biomass, a renewable energy source. Students had the opportunity to explore ComBio’s steam production unit, where they were able to understand how the two earliest known biomasses (eucalyptus chips and sugarcane bagasse) are converted into thermal energy in the boiler.

With the mission of being the best and most innovative renewable thermal energy company, ComBio, a certfied B Corp, develops projects for clients who do not have biomass, lack the resources to invest in biomass boilers, or do not have the know-how to operate them. The company uses agroforestry by-products and industrial waste as raw materials and has 10 units in Brazil. A signatory of the Global Compact since 2014, ComBio integrates four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its business model, contributing to industrial innovation, circular economy, increased renewable energy, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

“It was truly inspiring to witness the students' dedication and enthusiasm as they tackled the challenges presented to them. Their attention to detail and innovative approaches in solving real-world problems were particularly impressive. Numerous creative and viable ideas emerged throughout the process, reaffirming that the issues we posed are not hypothetical but are actively affecting our world today. Without a doubt, some of these solutions have the potential to be implemented in current and future projects, making a tangible impact.”

Our passion in the academic ﬁeld has given us the privilege of actively collaborating with more than 80 universities, offering professional and extracurricular experience journeys directly impacting more than 4000 students.

Written by:

Campus b Team

Photography by Vinícius Saladino

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PHOTO JOURNEY:

Dialogue: Sustainable Energy in Brazil

featuring Northeastern University

Usina Iracema

ComBio Energy S.A

Our passion in the academic ﬁeld has given us the privilege of actively collaborating with more than 80 universities, offering professional and extracurricular experience journeys directly impacting more than 4000 students.

Written by:

Campus b Team

to go beyond

Navigate here:

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