Barriers to the Expansion of Sugarcane Bioelectricity in Brazilian Energy Transition (original) (raw)
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Bioelectricity’s Potential Availability from Last Brazilian Sugarcane Harvest
Low Carbon Transition - Technical, Economic and Policy Assessment, 2018
This chapter presents and discusses the potential of power generation from last sugarcane harvest (2016/2017), mainly by the combustion of two by-products; bagasse and straw. Bioelectricity production from the bagasse and the straw is possible through the grinding sugarcane, and both are available in the driest period of the year (May to September) and match with the water shortage in the reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants to the same period. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane of the world, in 2016/2017 reaped 657,189.900 tons, this crop is concentrated in four states that are responsible for over 90% of the bioelectricity production. Considering 2016/2017 harvest, we have foreseen that the availability of bioelectricity could reach 74,994 GWh, but if we aggregate straw to the combustion at the boiler, the electricity produced would reach 111,558 GWh. This power energy produced is almost 20% of total power energy supply in 2016, when power generation was 570,562 GWh. This way, Brazil could increase the share of the renewable resources at its power energy matrix and avoid greenhouse gas emission. Moreover, we present a deep discussion about the current federal regulatory scope of Brazilian electricity market and how bioelectricity fits into this competitive market.
Optimizing ethanol and bioelectricity production in sugarcane biorefineries in Brazil
Renewable Energy, 2016
In sugarcane biorefineries, the lignocellulosic portion of the sugarcane biomass (i.e. bagasse and cane trash) can be used as fuel for electricity production and/or feedstock for second generation (2G) ethanol. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of upgraded sugarcane biorefineries in Brazil, aiming at utilizing surplus bagasse and cane trash for electricity and/or ethanol production. The study investigates the trade-off on sugarcane biomass use for energy production: bioelectricity versus 2G ethanol production. The BeWhere mixed integer and spatially explicit model is used for evaluating the choice of technological options. Different scenarios are developed to find the optimal utilization of sugarcane biomass. The study finds that energy prices, type of electricity substituted, biofuel support and carbon tax, investment costs, and conversion efficiencies are the major factors influencing the technological choice. At the existing market and technological conditions applied in the upgraded biorefineries, 300 PJ y À1 2G ethanol could be optimally produced and exported to the EU, which corresponds to 2.5% of total transport fuel demand in the EU. This study provides a methodological framework on how to optimize the alternative use of agricultural residues and industrial co-products for energy production in agro-industries considering biomass supply chains, the pattern of domestic energy demand, and biofuel trade.
Recent advances of sugarcane biomass cogeneration in Brazil
Power Engineering Society, IEEE General Meeting, 2009
the integrated sugar/ethanol/electricity production has launched a new business model -the bioelectricity industrywith a potential to become a "mainstream" energy supply option in the near future in Brazil. Besides being clean, the bioelectricity plants have been winning several hundred MWs in long-term contracts auctioned by distribution companies under the Brazilian power sector framework. These contracts have been awarded on a competitive basis, without any subsidy policy. In addition, bioelectricity plants comply with the requirements of the CDM for selling emission reduction credits. The objective of this work is to discuss the bioelectricity achievements in Brazil.
Availability of Electric Power from Bagasse and Straw of the Last Brazilian Sugarcane Harvest
Low Carbon Transition - Technical, Economic and Policy Assesments
This paper presents and discusses the potential of power generation from last sugarcane harvest (2016/17), mainly by the combustion of two by-products; bagasse and straw. Bioelectricity production from the bagasse and the straw is possible through the grinding sugar cane and both are available in the driest period of the year (May to September) and match with the water shortage in the reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants to the same period. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane of the world, in 2016 reached 607,136.697 tons, this crop is concentrated in the States of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Paraná, that are responsible for over 90% of the bioelectricity production. Considering 2016/17 harvest, we have foreseen that the availability of bioelectricity could reach 74,994 GWh, but if we aggregate straw to the combustion at the boiler the electricity produced would reach 111,558 GWh. This potential power generated is almost 20% of total power energy supply in 2016. This way, Brazil can increase the share of the renewable resources at its power energy matrix and avoiding greenhouse gas emission. Moreover, we present a discussion about the current federal regulatory scope of electricity market and how bioelectricity is being inserted.
Bioelectricity versus bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse: is it worth being flexible?
Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2013
Background: Sugarcane is the most efficient crop for production of (1G) ethanol. Additionally, sugarcane bagasse can be used to produce (2G) ethanol. However, the manufacture of 2G ethanol in large scale is not a consolidated process yet. Thus, a detailed economic analysis, based on consistent simulations of the process, is worthwhile. Moreover, both ethanol and electric energy markets have been extremely volatile in Brazil, which suggests that a flexible biorefinery, able to switch between 2G ethanol and electric energy production, could be an option to absorb fluctuations in relative prices. Simulations of three cases were run using the software EMSO: production of 1G ethanol + electric energy, of 1G + 2G ethanol and a flexible biorefinery. Bagasse for 2G ethanol was pretreated with a weak acid solution, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, while 50% of sugarcane trash (mostly leaves) was used as surplus fuel. Results: With maximum diversion of bagasse to 2G ethanol (74% of the total), an increase of 25.8% in ethanol production (reaching 115.2 L/tonne of sugarcane) was achieved. An increase of 21.1% in the current ethanol price would be enough to make all three biorefineries economically viable (11.5% for the 1G + 2G dedicated biorefinery). For 2012 prices, the flexible biorefinery presented a lower Internal Rate of Return (IRR) than the 1G + 2G dedicated biorefinery. The impact of electric energy prices (auction and spot market) and of enzyme costs on the IRR was not as significant as it would be expected. Conclusions: For current market prices in Brazil, not even production of 1G bioethanol is economically feasible. However, the 1G + 2G dedicated biorefinery is closer to feasibility than the conventional 1G + electric energy industrial plant. Besides, the IRR of the 1G + 2G biorefinery is more sensitive with respect to the price of ethanol, and an increase of 11.5% in this value would be enough to achieve feasibility. The ability of the flexible biorefinery to take advantage of seasonal fluctuations does not make up for its higher investment cost, in the present scenario.
Energy, 2012
This paper discusses the complementarity between hydroelectricity and surplus electricity from sugarcane biomass-based cogeneration plants in sugarcane mills. The paper investigates opportunities and barriers in the context of governments' initiatives, institutions and prevailing regulatory frameworks in Brazil and Nepal. The paper finds that bioelectricity from cogeneration can be a good complementary option for hydroelectric power, helping foster diversification on the generation side and enhance security of electricity supply based on local resources. Bioelectricity potential from sugarcane biomass is estimated to be in the range of 209e313 GWh for Nepal and 62e93 TWh for Brazil. In Nepal, the grid connected bioelectricity can provide power for operating industries, and support local development through rural electrification. In Brazil, the biomass potential can be further enhanced through a better utilization of the biomass in the sugar-ethanol industry to balance hydropower availability. This comparative study offers a reflection on the need for better planning and policies to address the barriers which are hindering the development of bioelectricity even in places where the potential is large.
The study of optimization scenarios taking into consideration not only technical and energy parameters but also economic and environmental aspects is fundamental for sustainability of biorefinery systems. This study focuses on the environmental and economic impacts of autonomous and annexed sugarcane processing plants in Brazil using an innovative framework, where computer simulation is linked to the environmental and economic assessment. Results showed that considering only the industrial processing stage for ethanol production, autonomous plant present better environmental performance. However it was not possible to establish significant differences between annexed and autonomous plants when the complete life cycle of the ethanol production from sugarcane is considered. Optimized biorefineries showed lower environmental impacts and better economic results in comparison to the base scenarios for both annexed and autonomous plants. Economic results also indicated that, in the base scenario, annexed plant presents slightly higher internal rate of return and slightly lower ethanol production costs. Optimized biorefinery scenarios showed that autonomous plant present higher internal rate of return while annexed and autonomous plants showed equivalent ethanol production costs.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013
The aim of this paper is to present aspects about the energy balance of sugarcane crops and its carbon dioxide emissions. We calculate energy used in agricultural, industrial and distribution sectors by five sugarcane mills of Mato Grosso do Sul and we compare the yield with its energy delivery. The energy balance obtained, with an average 6.8, shows that is advantageous to produce ethanol in the lands of that Brazilian state. We have prepared a forecasting of electricity production from bagasse taking into account two types of technology. Finally, we present the potential value of CO 2 emitted by the five mills to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions of the ethanol production valor chain.
Applications and Potential of Sugarcane as an Energy Crop
Agricultural Research Updates, 2017
The declining reserves of the fossil fuels, and the climatic as well as economic concerns related to their consumption, have induced great interests into renewable, sustainable, and environment-friendly sources of energy. Brazil’s excellence in sugarcane derived biofuels has highlighted the sugarcane crop as an excellent source of bioenergy. Sugarcane is the largest crop commodity with respect to total production, and it is grown in more than seventy countries all over the world to meet the sugar needs. However, sugarcane is also one of the most suitable sources of biofuels as it exhibits the highest number of the major characteristics prerequisite of a bioenergy crop. Sugarcane is one of the most efficient photosynthesizers and sucrose producers. It is recognized to yield highest output to input ratio for biofuel engenderment. It can produce as high as 17 barrels of oil per acre against one barrel of oil obtained from soybean, the other major crop considered for biofuel production. Moreover, the automated harvest technology, no requisites of prime agricultural lands in certain countries, and the already established sugar industry makes the crop one of the best fits for the product. Sugarcane also addresses one of the prime concerns against biofuel crops i.e., food security, as it harvests huge biomass supplying lignocellulosic materials- the potential source of second-generation biofuels which does not compete with the food production. Presently, the protocols for ethanol generation from sugarcane focus on cane juice and molasses and it is established that the process can still be improved up to several folds. Further, the leftovers can be employed for cellulosic biofuels. However, the conversion of raw materials of the commodity into cellulosic biofuels is extremely intricate, requiring more processing against the traditional sugarcane ethanol and thus needs to be investigated for further optimization. Once the practice has been perfected, sugarcane can perform as an exceptional source of second-generation biofuels along with the traditional production of cane sugar. The biotechnological tools for the improvement of this crop are still expanding indicating that the potential of the crop will be incremented even more in the upcoming years. Significant amounts of surplus bioenergy are already being produced as a byproduct in many countries including Brazil, Mauritius, India, and Guatemala. The primary energy contents of the sugarcane are around 7,400 MJ/ton of cane. Cane biofuels can help to reduce air pollution, notorious tailpipe emissions, and greenhouse gases accumulation in the environment. Furthermore, cane biofuels also ensure the better performance of engines. This chapter analyzes the achievements, applications, potential, and the future avenues of bioenergy production from this crop. We also describe the molecular, physiological and metabolic factors of the phenomenon, and evaluate the barriers and areas of improvements for targeting the bioenergy fuels from sugarcane.