Brazilian sugarcane bagasse: Energy and non-energy consumption

Sugarcane is an important crop for economic development of Brazil, once it represents an ethanol and sugar source, as well as the biomass residue (bagasse) that is used for electric energy production. Due to its increasing potential uses, sugarcane bagasse was analyzed for energy & non-energy consumption in this work. For that, the amount of bagasse used for this purpose since 1999/2000 to 2012/2013 seasons was discussed as well as the energy from sugarcane bagasse commercialized on energy auctions in Brazil. Additionally, an estimative of bagasse quantity to be used for electric energy and for second-generation ethanol for 2015 and 2030 was shown. The volume of sugarcane bagasse production has increased year by year, and it is possible to observe that there is an increase amount of available bagasse being used for power generation (energy consumption), in cogeneration arrangements. The Brazilian Energy Plan scenarios estimate a mass sugarcane bagasse offering to be used only for second-generation ethanol around 7.0 × 106 tonnes year−1 for 2015, and 25.9 × 106 tonnes year−1 for 2030. Apart from the bagasse that provides all energy required by sugarcane process, mills can generate an energy surplus and sell it to the grid. Power generation from sugarcane bagasse has been made possible through financing by the Brazilian Program of Incentives for Alternative Sources of Electrical Power (PROINFA) which is a renewable energy and can be commercialized through energy auctions. ► Sugarcane bagasse potential will have a decisive role in the mix of global energy. ► There is an increase amount of available bagasse being used for power generation. ► Sugarcane bagasse has been today the largest renewable source of energy in Brazil. ► All Brazilian sugarcane mills are energy self-producers. ► In future sugarcane bagasse could be used to ethanol production.