Electricity generation with biogas from sugarcane vinasse in Colombia

Introduction: The consumption of bioenergy has increased in recent years, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In particular, sugarcane waste has been evaluated in several studies as a potential source of renewable energy. The sugar industry primarily produces sugar and ethanol, and for each liter of ethanol produced, between 10 and 15 liters of vinasse are generated. This residue is highly polluting and, although it is traditionally used for fertigation or disposed of, it holds significant potential for biogas production.Objectives:The main objective of this study was to assess the electricity generation potential from vinasse produced in ethanol plants in Colombia and calculate the CO2 emissions avoided by substituting local electricity use with this renewable energy source.Materials and Methods: Four different scenarios were evaluated based on the percentage of sugarcane juice used for ethanol production. For each scenario, the electricity generation potential from biogas produced by vinasse biodigestion was calculated. Additionally, the CO2 emissions avoided were estimated by comparing the use of vinasse-based electricity with local conventional electricity sources.Results: The results from the different scenarios show that the electricity generation potential ranges between 249,840.36 MWh/year and 437,156.37 MWh/year, depending on the percentage of sugarcane juice used for ethanol production. CO2 emissions avoided ranged from 31,475.26 to 55,081.70 tons of CO2/year. These results indicate that electricity generation from vinasse has a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to local conventional electricity.Conclusions: The valorization of sugarcane vinasse for electricity generation represents a significant step forward in the production of clean electricity in the sugar sector. The results show that this approach not only has high potential for renewable energy generation but also contributes significantly to reducing CO2 emissions, enhancing the sustainability of the sector.