COMMUNITIES AUTO SUFFICIENT IN FUELS FOR HUMANS, TRANSPORT AND ELECTRIC NEEDS

By
PETER CHARLES JAIS 
Sugarsoft Ltda
peter@sugarsoft.com.br

KEYWORDS: Sugar, Ethanol, Co-generation.

Abstract

IN VIEW OFthe present problems facing the world withrespect to fossil fuels (pollution and
global warming, availability and price), we studied the possibility of a small community
becoming auto sufficient in sugar, automotive fuel (ethanol) and electricity, all from
renewable biomass (sugarcane).  The study was done, based on a real projectthat we are presently installing under similar lines. The fuel needs of a community of 100 000 people were quantified in terms of sugar,
ethanol, and electricity. A mass and energy balance was calculated to determine the amounts of cane and
trash needed to produce the sugar, ethanol and electricity by generation and co-generation.
The results showed us that 100 tonnes of cane per hour can supply sufficient sugar
and electric energy for a community of 100 000 people and run their cars on 96ºGL ethanol
(no mix with gasoline) and still be able to export surplus ethanol. The auto sufficiency is for the whole yearand not only the crop period. The overall results showed us that, when compared to the importation of ‘fuels’, the project was positive.


Co-Products Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 27, 2010
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