Braskem S.A. (São Paulo, Brazil) announced a project at its industrial unit in Paulínia (SP) aimed at enhancing competitiveness and reducing operational costs. Developed in partnership with ComBio, a Brazilian company that supplies renewable thermal energy to the industry through biomass and renewable electricity, the initiative involves installing a boiler powered by renewable electricity, which will replace part of the steam currently produced using fossil fuels-a more renewable, efficient, and economically advantageous solution.
With a capacity of 12 t/h of steam production, the project represents a significant technological advancement for the petrochemical sector. This change will reduce the consumption of higher-cost fossil sources, providing greater predictability and competitiveness, while cutting approximately 65% of CO² emissions-Scopes 1 and 2-at the PP 3 PLN unit, contributing to Braskem’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 15% by 2030.
According to Gustavo Checcucci, Director of Energy and Industrial Decarbonization, the initiative reflects the company’s strategic vision: “This project represents another important step toward increasing efficiency and reducing costs in our operations, while advancing the construction of a more sustainable production model. With this, we reaffirm our commitment to driving the transition to a low-carbon industry, while boosting productivity and competitiveness in our operations.”
The partnership with ComBio was structured under a 15-year contract that includes acquisition, implementation, and maintenance of the assets. Braskem will be responsible for operations, while ComBio will act as a technical and commercial partner to ensure equipment performance. The project marks ComBio’s debut in the petrochemical sector, in partnership with the market leader in large-scale biopolymer production.
This achievement also consolidates the implementation of ComBio’s first electric boiler and one of the first in Brazil since the last wave of electric boilers in the 1980s. “This partnership with Braskem reinforces our purpose of enabling solutions that combine sustainability, competitiveness, and energy security for the industry, whether through renewable electricity or biomass. By implementing our first electric boiler for a client of Braskem’s scale, we demonstrate that it is possible to reduce costs and emissions simultaneously, accelerating the energy transition in Brazil’s chemical and petrochemical sector,” says Gustavo Marchezin, ComBio’s Commercial Director.
Currently in the licensing and implementation phase, the boiler is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2026. The initiative reinforces Braskem’s position as an active agent in building a low-carbon industry, while representing a strategic step for ComBio, which expands its presence in the petrochemical sector and consolidates its reputation for innovation and renewable thermal energy solutions for Brazilian industry.