Track: Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

This study presents a feasibility of export electricity generation for a 3000 tons of Cane per day Crushing   capacity factory which currently generates electricity for own consumption alone. The competitive sugar industry with high costs of production makes it necessary for diversification by sugar industry to increase its competitiveness. This will improve the sustainability of the cane sugar industry and the electricity grid by supply of green electricity. The factory and its cogeneration plant performances were examined for possible improvement and diversification into electricity export to the public grid. There is need to diversify operations by sugar industry which is facing a crisis as a result of sugar dumping and high costs of production. Other than diversification into ethanol production, export cogeneration has a potential to generate additional revenue streams for struggling industry. This study involves a performance analysis of an operating sugar factory to determine its electricity generation potential. Data was collected by observation, document analysis, interview, and questionnaire. The study showed that the cogeneration potential is significant and currently underutilized and can significantly contribute towards greenhouse gas emission mitigation from power generation and earn revenue for the struggling sugar factory making the factory more competitive. The plant uses old inefficient equipment of very low efficiency that contributes to the low performance. Steam generation is inefficient from 3 boilers all older than 30 years. Use of high-pressure high temperature boilers and an alternative fuel to bagasse as a secondary fuel will make export cogeneration more competitive and feasible