Mission to the Netherlands shows the potential of Rio Grande do Sul to invest in renewable energies

The Brazil Network Day (BND) was one of the highlights of the second day of the Netherlands Renewable Energies and Biogas Mission to the Netherlands, on Tuesday (13). The event, an initiative of the Brazilian Embassy in The Hague, took place in the city of Rotterdam. Dutch and Brazilian speakers were present and there were business meetings with groups from the European country.
The Secretary of Mines and Energy, Susana Kakuta, talked about the current status of development of renewable energies in Rio Grande do Sul. “It can be said that Rio Grande do Sul is well positioned worldwide regarding the implementation and establishment of policies targeted to renewable energies and the dissemination of relevant information”.
On the other hand, Susana stressed that Rio Grande do Sul must pursue the project of creation of the Carbochemical Hub. “I learned that coal will continue to be used in percentages similar to the current ones for the next 100 years. The Carbochemical Hub is equally important as the Petrochemical Hub of Triunfo, with environmentally adequate technology, capable of generating thousands of jobs and income for the state residents”.
For the Deputy Secretary of Economic Development, Science and Technology (Sdect), Evandro Fontana, the event was an opportunity to present the State, InvestRS and the investment attraction effort promoted by the government. Rio Grande do Sul has great potential. We must attract new companies, especially in the segments of generation of energy from biogas, biomass and wind. When we talk about generation of energy, we also talk about investments that generate jobs and stimulate the economy, “he said.
“We made a presentation on all the possibilities and opportunities offered by Rio Grande do Sul through the government and the private sector. Fiergs is satisfied with the results. We hope the event will bring new investments to the State”, commented the president of the Federation of Industries of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs), Gilberto Porcello Petry.

Prospecting
In the morning, the delegation of Rio Grande do Sul also attended a presentation by Rotterdam Partners, Rotterdam’s commercial and investment promotion agency, and had meetings with Dutch companies.

The business rounds promoted by Fiergs, together with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), included nine Dutch companies with 11 Brazilian representatives, totaling 42 meetings.

In addition, Arquea, a Brazilian startup installed in the Feevale Techpark that develops projects for the biogas chain and small scale biodigesters; AgrenNewEnergy, a Dutch renewable energy company, and the City Hall of Harmonia signed a letter of intent for the implementation of a biogas or biomethane plant in the municipality. The purpose of this letter of intent is to reduce the environmental impact of pig farming, allowing the duplication of the industrial park (meat processing unit) already installed.
The delegation stayed in the Netherlands until Friday (16). On Wednesday (14), there were visits to the biogas facilities of DMT and the Circular Valley, an initiative of three companies that included a presentation about circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste by reducing, recycling and reusing products and materials in interconnected systems, biological cycles and markets.
The mission was organized by Fiergs, through the International Business Center (CIN-RS), and the InvestRS Program, in partnership with the State Government, through SME, Sema and Sdect, with the Netherlands Business Support Office ( NBSO), the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and the Brazilian Embassy in The Hague.

Source: InvestRS / march 2018