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Sustainability analysis of bioethanol production in Mexico by a retrofitted sugarcane industry based on the Brazilian expertise

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  • López-Ortega, Mónica G.
  • Guadalajara, Yatzil
  • Junqueira, Tassia L.
  • Sampaio, Isabelle L.M.
  • Bonomi, Antonio
  • Sánchez, Arturo

Abstract

Bioethanol as fuel oxygenator is currently being introduced in Mexico with an estimated yearly demand of 3 billion liters expected to be produced mainly from sugarcane. This paper studies how to employ some of the expertise acquired by Brazil during its transition from typical mills into advanced biorefineries to retrofit the Mexican sucroalcohol industry. A typical Mexican sugarcane factory design is retrofitted to three biorefinery designs commonly found in Brazil, which are an autonomous distillery, a biorefinery with 50:50 feedstock ratio for ethanol and sugar production and a molasses distillery. The results of a techno-economic analysis considering these four designs under Mexican conditions are presented, followed by an economic comparison of the autonomous distillery design operating under Mexican and Brazilian conditions. Sustainability analysis is then carried out to identify the advantages and drawbacks of each design. The analysis compares an environment-driven scenario promoting bioethanol production and use for phasing out fossil fuels, against a commercially focused framework considering only environmental and economic issues affecting stakeholders’ profit. Results show in monetary terms the impact of each indicator of a retrofitting path from currently profitable biorefineries coproducing sugar and alcohol to sustainable distilleries using molasses and juice as feedstock to produce bioethanol.

Suggested Citation

  • López-Ortega, Mónica G. & Guadalajara, Yatzil & Junqueira, Tassia L. & Sampaio, Isabelle L.M. & Bonomi, Antonio & Sánchez, Arturo, 2021. "Sustainability analysis of bioethanol production in Mexico by a retrofitted sugarcane industry based on the Brazilian expertise," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:232:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221013049
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Goldemberg, José & Coelho, Suani Teixeira & Guardabassi, Patricia, 2008. "The sustainability of ethanol production from sugarcane," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 2086-2097, June.
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    3. Silalertruksa, Thapat & Gheewala, Shabbir H. & Pongpat, Patcharaporn, 2015. "Sustainability assessment of sugarcane biorefinery and molasses ethanol production in Thailand using eco-efficiency indicator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 603-609.
    4. Arnaldo Walter & Marcelo Valadares Galdos & Fabio Vale Scarpare & Manoel Regis Lima Verde Leal & Joaquim Eugênio Abel Seabra & Marcelo Pereira da Cunha & Michelle Cristina Araujo Picoli & Camila Ortol, 2014. "Brazilian sugarcane ethanol: developments so far and challenges for the future," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(1), pages 70-92, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Noe Aguilar Rivera, 2022. "Sustainable Biofuels. Strategy for Growth and Energy Security," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 17(3), pages 1-29, Julio - S.
    2. Pavão, Leandro V. & Santos, Lucas F. & Oliveira, Cássia M. & Cruz, Antonio J.G. & Ravagnani, Mauro A.S.S. & Costa, Caliane B.B., 2023. "Flexible heat integration system in first-/second-generation ethanol production via screening pinch-based method and multiperiod model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).

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