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Comparative analysis for power generation and ethanol production from sugarcane residual biomass in Brazil

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  • Seabra, Joaquim E.A.
  • Macedo, Isaias C.

Abstract

This work compares the technical, economic and environmental (GHG emissions mitigation) performance of power generation and ethanol production from sugarcane residual biomass, considering conversion plants adjacent to a sugarcane mill in Brazil. Systems performances were simulated for a projected enzymatic saccharification co-fermentation plant (Ethanol option) and for a commercial steam-Rankine power plant (Electricity option). Surplus bagasse from the mill would be used as fuel/raw material for conversion, while cane trash collected from the field would be used as supplementary fuel at the mill. For the Electricity option, the sugarcane biorefinery (mill+adjacent plant) would produce 91Â L of ethanol per tonne of cane and export 130Â kWh/t of cane, while for the Ethanol option the total ethanol production would be 124Â L/t of cane with an electricity surplus of 50Â kWh/t cane. The return on investment (ROI) related to the biochemical conversion route was 15.9%, compared with 23.2% for the power plant, for the conditions in Brazil. Considering the GHG emissions mitigation, the environmentally preferred option is the biochemical conversion route: the net avoided emissions associated to the adjacent plants are estimated to be 493 and 781Â kgCO2eq/t of dry bagasse for the Electricity and Ethanol options, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Seabra, Joaquim E.A. & Macedo, Isaias C., 2011. "Comparative analysis for power generation and ethanol production from sugarcane residual biomass in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 421-428, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:1:p:421-428
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    2. Faaij, Andre P.C., 2006. "Bio-energy in Europe: changing technology choices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 322-342, February.
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