Extended sugarcane biomass utilisation for exportable electricity production in Mauritius

The availability and exportable electricity-production potential of bagasse and sugarcane residues are estimated for various technologies which determine steam production and utilisation at cogenerating sugar factories. Almost 565 kg of fibrous sugarcane biomass (expressed as kilogrammes of bagasse at 50% moisture) are potentially available for exportable electricity production for every tonne of cane milled. A “bagasse proper only” strategy would utilise 28% of the fibrous cane biomass and can potentially produce between 60 to 180 kW h of electricity per tonne of millable cane. Use of cane tops and leaves as a bagasse extender would utilise another 32% of the sugarcane biomass and the electricity output could range between 146 and 401 kW h/t of millable cane. The extreme case where 100% of the fibrous sugar cane biomass is utilised has the potential of producing up to 678 kW h/t of millable cane.