Recoal in Brazil - a Working Hypothesis

Brazil has been on our map for a while. Long before anyone boarded a plane, we were already working through questions about biomass availability, industrial integration, storage pathways, and regulatory context. The trip itself was one step in a longer process, not a standalone moment.

In late November and early December, our CEO Pirmin Aregger spent two weeks in Brazil representing Recoal as part of the Startup Camp organized by Innosuisse and Swissnex in Brazil. The objective was practical: test our assumptions in the field, speak directly with people who operate large biomass systems, and understand where our approach to carbon dioxide removal could make sense under Brazilian conditions.

Preparation took place weeks in advance. We worked through potential regions, biomass types, and industrial settings, and aligned on which conversations mattered most at this stage. The agenda combined structured meetings with open-ended exchanges, leaving room to explore unexpected directions.

This groundwork mattered. It allowed the time in Brazil to be spent on substance rather than introductions.

Pirmin participated in several events that framed carbon removal within broader industrial and energy systems. These included the II Seminário Internacional de Descarbonização e Eficiência Energética organized by Senai Blumenau, the Sugarcane Global Summit in Campinas, and the 3rd Infrastructure Forum Brazil–Switzerland in São Paulo.

Across these settings, carbon dioxide removal was discussed alongside agriculture, ethanol, infrastructure, and long-term decarbonization pathways. The conversations reinforced how central wet biomass side streams are to Brazil’s economy and how varied the regional contexts can be.

Outside of panels and conferences, the most detailed work happened in one-on-one meetings. Discussions with industrial players, researchers, and policy-adjacent stakeholders helped clarify constraints around logistics, regulation, and implementation timelines. Some ideas became sharper. Others were set aside. That filtering is part of the job.

The trip did not conclude the effort. It shifted it. Since Pirmin’s return, we have been following up on the connections made, sharing additional information, and continuing the discussions. Some conversations are moving toward concrete next steps. Others remain exploratory, which is appropriate at this stage.

Brazil confirmed something we already suspected: the availability of wet biomass at scale creates real potential for durable carbon removal. At the same time, it highlighted the importance of local partnerships, regional specificity, and regulatory alignment. None of that can be solved in a single visit.

Brazil remains a serious focus for Recoal. The past months helped us move from general interest to more informed positioning. We will keep sharing updates as this path develops.