Regresar

Sustainability of sugarcane for energy purposes

Abstract:

A sugarcane mill can produce ethanol (biofuel), sugar (food), and biowastes to heat and power (bioenergy). For year-round operation, the sugar mill could adopt other feedstocks, besides sugarcane. Energy cane and sweet sorghum have different harvest times, but can be processed for bioethanol using the same equipment. Currently, sugarcane residues are mostly burned for the production of heat and electricity to feed the sugar mill or to sell surplus electricity to the grid. However, residues could also be used as feedstocks for the production of other high-value products in the context of a lignocellulosic biorefinery. Several virtual biorefineries are described as well as the main conclusions in terms of «what are the most sustainable ones?».