Abstract
Biofuels need to be sustainable, with low GHG emissions, no use of forest lands, and no competition with food production, and should still be produced at low and competitive cost. The requirements for biofuels to fulfill are somehow “not fair” because they need not only to help reducing GHG emissions but also satisfy requirements they simply were not designed for. Nevertheless, the two most important modern biofuel production systems are the Brazilian sugarcane ethanol and the US corn ethanol. One may ask, what happened with ethanol in these two countries that made their production systems a success? Somehow, in both systems the environment aspect is considered satisfactory, and there is no competition with food production. However, what makes them a success is the economics involved in both cases. Biofuels need to be produced sharing its cost with its coproducts, animal feed (DDG) for the corn ethanol case and sugar and electricity in the case of sugarcane ethanol. Brazil became the first world sugar exporter because of its sugarcane ethanol program, and the United States produced a quite strong beef industry in great part due to its correspondent DDG production largely used as animal feed. However, in both cases, DDG in the United States and sugar in Brazil are relatively saturated. In both countries, a new model will need to be invented. This chapter intends to analyze these issues and discuss the advantages of different production models. Also, the future perspectives of sugarcane biofuels are analyzed in the light of contributing to the global GHG emissions reduction and technology development of the most important biofuel alternatives.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
In Colombia, part of the sugarcane bagasse is used for pulp and paper.
- 2.
There was an initial concern that this practice would cause a reduction in corn supply with substantial increases on food production costs.
- 3.
The total sugarcane planted area in Brazil is nearly 9–10 million hectares, nearly half going to sugar and the other half to ethanol production.
- 4.
Few developed countries use heavily subsidized agriculture commodities to produce biofuels. Many developing countries produce traditional biomass, by simply extracting it from the environment and using it as bioenergy (Cortez et al. 2018).
- 5.
- 6.
Electric cars yet have their own limitations like high battery prices. Heavy vehicles are also expected to be slower in adopting this option and therefore may use biofuels for more years or even decades.
- 7.
The Brazilian Federal Government always understood sugarcane ethanol as an important fuel to be supported for the reasons that range from enhancing national energy security to protecting sugar producers.
- 8.
More aspects of the Brazilian model to produce sugarcane ethanol are given in Cruz et al. (2014).
- 9.
DDG stands for dry distillers grains. It is the coproduct from corn ethanol and is rich in fiber and protein.
- 10.
- 11.
- 12.
COALBRA – Coke and Alcohol Wood S/A.
- 13.
- 14.
That is, www.sustainableaviation.co.uk, and www.csiro.au.
References
Agência Nacional do Petróleo Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (2010) Resolução ANP No 52, de 29.12.2010 – DOU 30.12.2010. http://legislacao.anp.gov.br/?path=legislacao-anp/resol-anp/2010/dezembro&item=ranp-52%2D%2D2010. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Andrew A, Bracmort K, Brown JT, Else DH (2012) The Navy biofuel initiative under the defense production act. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42568.pdf. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
ASTM – ASTM International (2011) ASTM D7566-11a: standard specification for aviation turbine fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons. Available at: https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/D7566-11.htm. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
ASTM – ASTM International (2012) ASTM D1655-12: standard specification for aviation turbine fuels. https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/D1655-12.htm. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Biorefineries Blog (2017) Corn fiber ethanol – examining 1.5G technologies https://biorrefineria.blogspot.com/search?q=1.5G+ethanol. Accessed 5 Nov 2018
Bonomi A, Cavalett O, Cunha MPD, Lima MAP (2016) Virtual biorefinery: an optimization strategy for renewable carbon valorization. In: Green energy and technology. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland
Braunbeck OA, Magalhães PSG (2010). Technological evaluation of sugarcane mechanization. In: Cortez LAB (ed) Sugarcane bioethanol: R&D for productivity and sustainability. Edgard Blucher, 992p. São Paulo. . ISBN 978-85-212-0530-2. https://openaccess.blucher.com.br/article-details/technological-evaluation-of-sugarcane-mechanization-19261
Cruz CH de Brito, Cortez LAB, Souza GM (2014) Future energy: improved, sustainable and clean options for our planet. Letcher TM (ed) Biofuels for transport., 2nd edn, Elsevier, London. http://find.lib.uts.edu.au/;jsessionid=B944BE4C8E2E60E5C1BDB7274F25240F?R=OPAC_b2845998
Chiong MC, Chong CT, Ng JH, Lam SS, Tran MV, Chong WWF, Mohd Jaafar MN, Valera Medina A (2018) Liquid biofuels production and emissions performance in gas turbines: a review. Energy Convers Manag 173:640–658. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/114275. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Chong KJ, Bridgwater AV (2016) Fast pyrolysis oil fuel blend for marine vessels. Wiley Online Library, 1–8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ep.12402. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Cortez LAB (ed) (2010) Sugarcane bioethanol: R&D for productivity and sustainability. Edgard Blucher, São Paulo, p 992
Cortez LAB (2012) From the sustainability that we have to the sustainability we should have. In: Poppe MK, Cortez LAB (eds), Sustainability of sugarcane bioenergy, CGEE, Brasília
Cortez LAB (ed) (2014) Roadmap for sustainable biofuels for aviation in Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil. http://openaccess.blucher.com.br/article-list/roadmap-aviation-272/list#articles. p 272. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Cortez LAB, Cruz CH d B (2014) An assessment of Brazilian government initiatives and policies for the promotion of biofuels through research, commercialization, and private investment support. In: da SSS, Chandel AK (eds) Biofuels in Brazil: fundamental aspects, recent developments, and future perspectives. Springer, Cham, p 435
Cortez LAB, Cruz CH d B, Souza GM (2016) Universidades e empresas: 40 anos de ciência e tecnologia para o etanol brasileiro, Edgard Blucher 2016, São Paulo, p 224. http://openaccess.blucher.com.br/article-list/proalcool-universidades-e-empresas-40-anos-de-ciencia-e-tecnologia-para-o-etanol-brasileiro-310/list#articles. (in Portuguese)
Cortez LAB (2018) In: Leal MRLV, Nogueira LAH (eds) Sugarcane bioenergy for sustainable development: expanding production in Latin America and Africa, Routledge studies in bioenergy. Taylor & Francis, London/New York
Cunha MP, Souza LGA, Argollo AT, Cunha JVN, Nogueira LAH (2018) Sustainable bioenergy production in Mozambique as a vector for economic development. In: Cortez LA, Leal MRLV, Nogueira LAH (eds) Sugarcane bioenergy for sustainable development: expanding production in Latin America and Africa, Routledge studies in bioenergy. Taylor & Francis, London/New York
Demirbas A (2017) Tomorrow’s biofuels: goals and hopes. Energy Source, Part a: Recovery, utilization, and environmental effects 39(7):673–679. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2016.1252815
Food and Agriculture Organization (2011) Agricultural land. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_land. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Fulton L (2013) The need for biofuels to meet global sustainability targets, BIOEN-BIOTA-PFPMCG-SCOPE Joint Workshop on Biofuels & Sustainability, 26 Feb 2013, São Paulo
Fulton LM, Lynd LR, Körner A, Greene N, Tonachel L (2015) The need for biofuels as part of a low carbon energy future. Biofuels Bioprod Biorefin 9(5):476–483. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1559
Galindo R, Baldassim R, Franco TT (2018) Ternary blends of renewable fast pyrolysis bio-oil-advanced bioethanol and marine gasoil offer potential to reduce greenhouse gases emission, Submitted to Energy Fuels
Gysel NR, Russell RL, Welch WA, Cocker DR, Ghosh S (2014) Impact of sugarcane renewable fuel on in-use gaseous and particulate matter emissions from a marine vessel. Energy Fuel 28(6):4177–4182. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef500457x
Hsieh PY, Abel KR, Bruno TJ (2013) Analysis of marine diesel fuel with the advanced distillation curve method. Energy Fuel 27(2):804–810. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef3020525
International Energy Agency (2017) Energy technology perspectives Catalyzing energy technology transformations. https://www.iea.org/etp2017/. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
International Chamber of Shipping (2014) Shipping, world trade and the reduction of CO2. http://www.ics-shipping.org/docs/default-source/resources/policy-tools/shipping-world-trade-and-the-reduction-of-co2-emissionsEE36BCFD2279.pdf?sfvrsn=20. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
International Maritime Organization (2014) Third IMO greenhouse gas study 2014 http://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/Environment/pollutionprevention/airpollution/Documents/Third Greenhouse Gas Study/GHG3 Executive Summary and Report.pdf. Accessed 9 Dec 2018
Junqueira TJ, Chagas MF, Gouveia VLR, Rezende MCAF, Watanabe MDB, Jesus CDF, Cavalett O, Milanez AY, Bonomi A (2017) Techno-economic analysis and climate change impacts of sugarcane biorefineries considering different time horizons. Biotechnol Biofuel 10(50):1–12
Klein BC, Chagas MF, Junqueira TL, Rezende MCAF, Cardoso TF, Cavalett O, Bonomi A (2018) Techno-economic and environmental assessment of renewable jet fuel production in integrated, Brazilian sugarcane biorefineries. Appl Energy 209:290–305
Korhonen JS, PaTari S, Toppinen A, Tuppura A (2014) The role of environmental regulation in the future competitiveness of the pulp and paper industry: the case of the sulfur emissions directive in Northern Europe. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.06.003
Lack DA, Cappa CD, Langridge et al (2011) Impact of fuel quality regulation and speed reductions on shipping emissions: implications for climate and air quality. Environ Sci Technol 45(20):9052–9060. https://doi.org/10.1021/es2013424
Leite RCC (2018) The Future of fuel ethanol. In: Cortez LAB, Leal MRLV, Nogueira LAH (eds) Sugarcane bioenergy for sustainable development: expanding production in Latin America and Africa. Routledge studies in bioenergy. Taylor & Francis, London/New York
Li M, Zhang M, Yun Y, Wu H (2018) Ternary systems of pyrolytic lignin, mixed solvent, and water: phase diagram and implications. Energy Fuel 32(1):465–474. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b02943
Lu C, Christian CJ (2018) When will biofuels be economically feasible for commercial flights? Considering the difference between environmental benefits and fuel purchase costs, Tainan, Taiwan. J Clean Prod 181:365–373
MARPOL (2010) MARPOL – International convention for the prevention of the pollution from ships: Annex VI http://www.marpoltraining.com/MMSKOREAN/MARPOL/Annex_VI/index.htm. Accessed 30 Mar 2017
Matsuoka S, Kennedy A, Dos Santos G, Tomazela A, Rubio L (2014) Energy cane: its concept, development, characteristics and prospects. Adv Bot:Article ID 597275. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/597275
Mawhood R, Gazis E, de Jong S, Hoefnagels R, Slade R (2016) Production pathways for renewable jet fuel: a review of commercialization status and future prospects. Biofuels Bioprod Biorefin 10:462–484. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1644
McGill R, Remley W, Winther K (2013) Alternative fuels for marine applications. Report from the IEA advanced motor fuels implementing agreement. http://www.iea-amf.org/app/webroot/files/file/AnnexReports/AMF_Annex_41.pdf. Accessed 10 Nov 2018
Milanez AY et al (2015) De promessa a realidade: como o etanol celulósico pode revolucionar a indústria da cana-de-açúcar: uma avaliação do potencial competitivo e sugestões de política pública. BNDES Setorial 41:237–294. https://web.bndes.gov.br/bib/jspui/handle/1408/4283. Accessed 9 Dec 2018. (in Portuguese)
Nicodème T, Berchem T, Jacquet N, Richel A (2018) Thermochemical conversion of sugar industry by-products to biofuels. Renew Sust Energ Rev 88:151–159
Qu W, Wei L, Julson J (2013) An exploration of improving the properties of heavy bio-oil. Energy Fuel 27(8):4717–4722. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef400418p
Righi M, Klinger C, Eyring V, Hendricks J, Lauer A, Petzold A (2011) Climate impact of biofuels in shipping: Global model studies of the aerosol indirect effect. Environ Sci Technol 45:3519–3525. https://doi.org/10.1021/es1036157
Rosillo-Calle F, Johnson FX (eds) (2010) Food versus Biofuels: an informed introduction to biofuels. Zed Books, London, p 232. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/F/bo20849376.html
Silva FV (2012) Panorama e perspectivas do etanol lignocelulósico. Revista Liberato 13(20):01–16. (in Portuguese)
Silva G da (2013) Aprendizado do etanol celulósico no Brasil: O caso do projeto Dedini hidrólise rápida (DHR), MSc Dissertation, University of Campinas. (in Portuguese)
da Silva SS, Chandel AK (eds) (2014) Biofuels in Brazil: fundamental aspects, recent developments, and future perspectives. Springer, Berlin, p 435
Souza GM, Victoria R, Joly C, Verdade L (eds) (2015) Bioenergy & Sustainability: Bridging the gaps, vol 72. SCOPE, Paris, p 779. ISBN 978-2-9545557-0-6
Staš M, Kubička D, Chudoba J, Pospíšil M (2014) Overview of analytical methods used for chemical characterization of pyrolysis bio-oil. Energy Fuel 28(1):385–402. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef402047y
Taljegard M, Brynolf S, Grahn M, Andersson K, Johnson H (2014) Cost-effective choices of marine fuels in a carbon-constrained world: Results from a global energy model. Environ Sci Technol 48(21):12986–12,993. https://doi.org/10.1021/es5018575
Tao L, Fairley D, Kleeman MJ, Harley RA (2013) Effects of switching to lower sulfur marine fuel oil on air quality in the San Francisco Bay area. Environ Sci Technol 47(18):10171–10,178. https://doi.org/10.1021/es401049x
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2009) Multi-year expert meeting on transport and trade facilitation: Maritime transport and the climate change challenge, Geneva. http://unctad.org/en/Docs/dtltlb20091_en.pdf. Accessed 5 Nov 2018
Wang C, Corbett JJ, Winebrake JJ (2007) Cost-effectiveness of reducing sulfur emissions from ships. Environ Sci Technol 41(24):8233–8239. https://doi.org/10.1021/es070812w
Winebrake JJ, Corbett JJ, Green EH, Lauer A, Eyring V (2009) Mitigating the health impacts of pollution from oceangoing shipping: An assessment of low-sulfur fuel mandates. Environ Sci Technol 43(13):4776–4782. https://doi.org/10.1021/es803224q
Zafar S (2018) Salient features of sugar industry in Mauritius. https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/sugar-industry-mauritius/. Accessed 5 Nov 2018
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for supporting sugarcane bioenergy research “Bioenergy Contribution of Latin America, Caribbean and Africa to the GSB Project – LACAf-Cane.”
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cortez, L.A.B., Franco, T.T., Bonomi, A. (2019). Future Perspectives of Sugarcane Biofuels. In: Khan, M., Khan, I. (eds) Sugarcane Biofuels. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18597-8_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18597-8_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-18596-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-18597-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)