Full chain energy analysis of fuel ethanol from cane molasses in Thailand
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Author list: Nguyen T.L.T., Gheewala S.H., Garivait S.
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2008
Journal: Applied Energy (0306-2619)
Volume number: 85
Issue number: 8
Start page: 722
End page: 734
Number of pages: 13
ISSN: 0306-2619
eISSN: 1872-9118
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
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Abstract
An analysis of energy performance and supply potential was performed to evaluate molasses utilization for fuel ethanol in Thailand. The Thai government recently has set up a production target of 1.925 million litres a day of sugar-based ethanol. The molasses-based ethanol (MoE) system involves three main segments: sugar cane cultivation, molasses generation, and ethanol conversion. Negative net energy value found for MoE is a consequence of not utilizing system co-products (e.g. stillage and cane trash) for energy. Taking into account only fossil fuel or petroleum inputs in the production cycle, the energy analysis provides results in favour of ethanol. A positive net energy of 5.95 MJ/L which corresponds to 39% energy gain shows that MoE is efficient as far as its potential to replace fossil fuels is concerned. Another encouraging result is that each MJ of petroleum inputs can produce 6.12 MJ of ethanol fuel. Regarding supply potential, if only the surplus molasses is utilized for ethanol, a shift of 8-10% sugar cane produce to fuel ethanol from its current use in sugar industry could be a probable solution. ฉ 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Energy ratio, Net energy value
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