How energy efficient can we get

A key contributor to the financial viability of sugarcane factories is the availability of bagasse to be used as boiler fuel. It is difficult to see how Australian factories could be financially viable if the crop had to be processed using steam generated in boilers using alternative fuels. In most factories and for most cane varieties, the bagasse supply from the milling train is more than what is needed by the boiler station to generate the steam required for factory operations. That is, sugarcane factories can be energy self-sufficient even without being particularly energy efficient. The existing and potential revenue from electricity export and the sale of bagasse derived by-products will increase when factories become more energy efficient. This paper looks at some of the factors that limit factory energy efficiency and how factory energy efficiency can be maximised.