Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Cogeneration in Brazilian sugar and bioethanol mills: past, present and challenges.

2006; Agra Europe; Volume: 108; Issue: 1291 Linguagem: Inglês

0020-8841

José Luiz Oliverio, José Eduardo Ribeiro,

Biofuel production and bioconversion

In Brazil, sugarcane is increasingly seen as an energy crop. This paper discusses the circumstances which dictated the dedicated support from the government to support energy diversification programme which includes bagasse cogenerated power. With reference to case studies, at a mill level, the paper identifies energy consuming processes and prescribes a range of improvements to minimize energy use so that there is more surplus power available to sell to the grid. The significant role played by Dedini in the evolution of bagasse cogeneration in the country is noted. At current level of sugarcane production in Brazil, there is the potential to produce some 16000 MW from bagasse and 50% of the crop residues (which has yet to be utilized).