Generation of Energy from Sugarcane Bagasse by Thermal Treatment

The worldwide harvest of sugarcane for sucrose production represents a major agricultural industry, with approximately Mt 1500 produced annually. The cane yields about 13.5% of its weight as sugar, together with an equal amount (dry weight) of fibrous bagasse as waste. The bagasse, which is predominantly cellulose, is burned at the mills to generate steam for sugar processing. The global drive towards renewable energy has seen bagasse recognised as a large resource of readily-available fuel which could be better utilised to generate electricity. This review examines current methods of burning the bagasse for steam generation, and also the possibilities for steam gasification to produce a biogas suitable for combustion in gas turbines.