Black liquor, one of the main residues from the pulp production process, is the main fuel used by Suzano to generate energy, in a complementary way to forest biomass, generating clean and renewable energy.

After burning the black liquor in the recovery boiler, the chemicals that make it up are returned to the production process, and the steam generated from this burning is sent to the turbogenerators to convert thermal energy into electricity.

As a result, most of Suzano's factories are self-sufficient in energy, i.e. they supply the demand for domestic consumption and also export the surplus to the National Interconnected System (SIN). This export contributes to the country's energy demand and to increasing the degree of renewability of the energy matrix, supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. 

Renewable energy generated from black liquor and forest biomass in our industrial units and exported to the National Interconnected System.

Increase by 50% the export of renewable energy to the grid - from 214 MWm to 322 MWm by 2030.

In 2023, the total value of exports was approximately 7% lower than the previous year. The drop is due to the reduction in Suzano's production volume, with an impact on energy generation at the units.

Despite the reduction in the company's total energy exports, the Aracruz Unit (ES) showed the best performance in 2023, with a 67% increase. The Imperatriz (MA) and Mucuri (BA) units, in turn, remained at similar levels to the previous year, although together they accounted for 40% of Suzano's total exports over the year.

Also noteworthy was Veracel, which increased its energy exports to the national grid by 350%, although the figure represents only 5% of the total amount exported.

In 2024, the Ribas do Rio Pardo (MS) factory will start operating, which will make a positive contribution to Suzano's energy exports to the SIN and, consequently, increase the degree of renewability of the Brazilian energy matrix.

At the same time, we will continue to seek better energy efficiency in all our operations throughout the year, based on projects that boost steam and electricity generation at the units - as is the case at the Aracruz Unit (ES), which will have a new turbogenerator installed in 2024.