Bagasse Bioelectricity (Cogeneration)

Sugarcane processing generates massive quantities of bagasse — the fibrous material left after juice extraction. Brazilian sugar mills burn this residue in high-pressure boilers to generate steam and electricity, consuming enough to power the mill and exporting the surplus to the national grid.

Globally, sugarcane bagasse has an annual electricity potential of 135,029 GWh. Brazil, as the world's largest sugarcane producer, captures a significant share. The technology is mature and self-financing — bagasse is a free fuel source that would otherwise require disposal.

Bioelectricity from bagasse has a counter-cyclical advantage: sugarcane is harvested during Brazil's dry season (May-November), precisely when hydroelectric reservoirs are lowest. This natural complementarity makes bagasse power a stabilizing force for Brazil's hydro-dependent grid.