Advanced technologies for electricity production in the sugarcane value chain are a strategic option in a carbon reward policy context

Abstract

Sustainable bioenergy production is required to meet the growing demand and environmental concerns. This study addresses current and advanced options for biomass-based electricity generation integrated to a sugarcane ethanol distillery in Brazil and polices that would foster its deployment. The typical combustion and steam cycle system and the integrated gasification combined cycle are the options considered for lignocellulosic biomass conversion into heat and power, associated with carbon capture and storage technologies. Besides conventional sugarcane, eucalyptus and energy-cane are also examined as promising feedstocks to extend operational days and/or increase biomass yields. The considered biomass-based electricity options are able to mitigate climate change impacts and depletion fossil resources. However, decreasing costs is a challenge to overcome for its broader implementation. The assessed strategies may help to guide policymakers on how to feasibly deploy advanced technologies for electricity production from biomass, meeting the future demands for sustainable electricity. The choice of larger processing scales shows an important effect on reducing costs, as well as choosing energy-cane as feedstock, which is also favorable for reducing climate change and land use impacts. Likewise, government policies that reward climate mitigation, as RenovaBio in Brazil, have a prominent role to foster advanced biomass-based electricity production technologies.