Petrobras tests Cardano blockchain to track sustainable fuels

Petrobras, Brazil’s state-controlled energy company, is testing two blockchain-based applications developed on the Cardano network to track the sustainability of its low-carbon fuels. The research initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Cardano Foundation and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) through its Ledger Labs center.

The first application focuses on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using a ‘Book-and-Claim’ model. This system tokenizes environmental attributes as digital CS-SAF tokens, allowing airlines or passengers to claim the carbon-reduction benefits even if the physical fuel is used elsewhere. By recording these attributes on the blockchain, the system aims to prevent ‘double counting,’ where the same environmental benefit is claimed multiple times.

The second application targets Diesel R, a renewable diesel product. This tool creates digital checkpoints to track the fuel’s lifecycle—from production and transport to end-use—to provide a verifiable history for companies reporting Scope 3 emissions. Both projects are currently in the research and development phase, with specific deployment timelines and fuel volumes not yet disclosed.