Bryan Lavarack
Mackay Sugar Limited, Racecourse Mill, Mackay Queensland Australia
Sugarcane has historically been grown to provide sugar and co-products, including renewable energy products from juice, molasses, mill mud, bagasse and vinasse. The renewable energy products include cogeneration, biogas, bagasse briquets and pellets, first- and second-generation bioethanol and other liquid fuels. The energy co-products from sugarcane are compared with renewable energy products derived from technologies that can be viewed as disruptive. The role of governments in establishing renewable energy targets or mandates is critical to ensure the financial success of renewable energy co-products from sugarcane. These goals are underpinned by the drive by governments to achieve the global target of net zero emissions by 2050. Typical energy data for highly energy-efficient factories designed to maximise energy production are presented. The energy consumption for the sugar factory is given as steam production on cane, with the energy-efficient Australian factories achieving under 40% steam on cane, and leading international factories reporting values less than 30%, emulating energy consumption levels achieved in highly efficient beet sugar factories. Increasing energy production from harvesting sugarcane agricultural residues (SAR) left in the field and the challenges it presents, are discussed.