Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
Jose Luz Silveira
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl
Global warming is caused mainly by the excessive use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, diesel, gasoline, etc.) that emit millions of tons of
pollutants into the environment. Besides, the fact that these fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources promotes the research
in cleaner energy sources. In this chapter are presented two different technologies that could be introduced in the sugarcane
industry to generate electricity and other kinds of clean fuel (producer gas and hydrogen); the case of hydrogen production
by ethanol steam reforming and biomass gasification, which appear like promising technologies for energy generation in the
sugarcane industry. Currently, most hydrogen is obtained from natural gas through a process known as reforming. Other
technologic alternatives that may improve the supply of energy to the sugarcane industry is the use of biomass gasifiers in
association with cogeneration system utilizing combined cycles to produce simultaneously electricity and heat, a technology
known as Biomass Integrated Gasification/Gas Turbine Combined Cycle (BIG/GTCC). Cogeneration has been accepted by
different industries and has gained great application in the sugarcane industry, where the thermic and electric demands are
favorable to use this type of energy system. The main fuel used in the process is sugarcane bagasse which is a by-product of sugar
and ethanol production processes; the obtained energy is used in the form of mechanical power, electric power, and saturated
steam in the processes. The surplus electricity can be sold. Technical, economical, and ecological analyses were performed for
introduction of hydrogen production and BIG/GTCC in the sugarcane industry, using bagasse as fuel, in order to identify the
better scenarios for electricity and heat generation. The introduction of these technologies will promote innovations in the
sugarcane industry. The main results will increase electricity production with an economic and ecologic sustainable approach.