Incorporation of hydrogen production process in a sugar cane industry: Steam reforming of ethanol

This work presents a technical, ecological and economic analysis of hydrogen production incorporation through ethanol steam reforming at a traditional sugarcane industry (sugar, ethanol). This proposal is reached through a reduction in the amount of fuel (bagasse) that is normally utilized to generate electricity without affecting the sugar and ethanol production processes, however. This surplus bagasse is utilized to produce steam for hydrogen production. In order to achieve this, it is calculated the available bagasse and maximum hydrogen amount and their inputs (hydrated and anhydrous ethanol). Based on the aforementioned, the investment needs are estimated, where the operation and maintenance cost, the operation period, the interest rate, and the annuity are considered. The incorporation of this new process is assessed through a comparison of this innovative plant with the traditional ones. •We studied the potential of hydrogen production integration to sugar cane industry.•We did a thermo-chemical analysis of this production.•We used an economic method for cost evaluation of hydrogen production integrated to sugar and alcohol industry.