Alejandro Orozco Donneys, Oscar Andrés Otálora Sevilla and Harold Home Saldarriaga
Incauca Sugar Mill (Incauca S.A.S), Colombia; aorozcod@incauca.com
Incauca, a leading company in the Colombian sugar-alcohol sector, has implemented an energy optimization project in its production plant with the objective of increasing the availability of bagasse for sale to the paper industry. The project was based on a review of the current state of the factory to identify opportunities for improvement. Mass and energy balances were performed, and operating scenarios were analyzed to develop an effective change proposal. The proposal reduces steam consumption, which translates into a reduction in bagasse consumption as fuel in boilers of around 67,000 t per year. This, in turn, increases the availability of bagasse for sale, strengthening the local supply chain and promoting a circular economy. At the same time, the cogeneration increase project was carried out, which allowed the installation of an additional sales capacity of about 30 MW available for sale for the high milling scenarios. In addition to the economic benefits mentioned above, the project also contributes to the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing the consumption of bagasse as fuel and not requiring an alternative fossil fuel, such as coal, a reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions of approximately 40,200 t per year. This positions Incauca as a leader in social responsibility.