New Energy Finance opens São Paulo office
New Energy Finance, the world's leading independent provider of information and research to investors in clean energy and the carbon markets, has opened its 12th office worldwide, in São Paulo, Brazil.
The office, on Avenida Paulista, was officially opened 6 June 2008 at a celebratory dinner and reception attended by key players in Brazil clean energy, including many from the country’s burgeoning ethanol sector. Company CEO and Chairman Michael Liebreich led a discussion attended by 75 of the firm’s clients and other key clean energy industry figures.
Liebreich said: "South America represents one of the most exciting markets for new energy investment in the world with its rapidly expanding biofuels sector. Brazil, in particular, is now attracting interest from major financial players in the EU, the Americas, and Asia. We have been gathering data and publishing research on the country’s ethanol developments for well over a year now. We are very pleased to take those efforts to the next level with an outstanding local team that knows and understands the intricacies of this market."
New Energy Finance’s research efforts in South America are being led by Camila Ramos, an ethanol industry veteran and former consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ramos said: “We are pleased to bring the in-depth research insights that are the New Energy Finance hallmark to Brazil. We hope to shed new light on biofuels in particular, and clean energy generally for our clients.” The São Paulo will serve as the research hub for New Energy Finance’s efforts throughout Latin America.
In addition to analysis of the clean energy sector, New Energy Finance will also provide analysis of the carbon markets in South America via its New Carbon Finance division, which will track the development of credit-qualifying projects across the continent. Brazil is the third largest supplier of CERs and is expected to remain an important player in carbon markets in the future.
Milo Sjardin, Head of New Carbon Finance North America, commented: “Brazil will play a pivotal role in the future of the global energy system and the way we address climate change. The country already accounts for 7% of the world’s carbon credits from almost 300 CDM projects, equivalent to $5bn for the value of emission reductions alone. Its excellent experience with ethanol and biomass, combined with the important role that forests will play in reducing emissions, will accelerate investment flows into the country.”
The country is also the world’s second largest producer of ethanol and in April the amount of ethanol consumed in the country surpassed gasoline for the first time. Its biofuels sector has seen a surge or capital invested over the past 24 months as investors recognize its potential as the world’s low-cost provider of the fuels. Brazil’s power generation portfolio contains a very large renewable component with sugar cane bagasse providing the power at many of the country’s biofuels plants. Hydro electricity also plays a critical role in domestic power generation.
In the past year, New Energy Finance has opened offices in Hyderabad, Tel Aviv, and Beijing. The company’s São Paulo office address is as follows:
