Techno-economic analysis of second-generation ethanol in Brazil: competitive, complementary aspects with first-generation ethanol

摘要: Brazil achieved important success in the implementation of ethanol as a reality renewable energy source after the inception of the National Alcohol Program (PROÁLCOOL) in 1970. Today, ethanol produced from sugarcane replaces almost 50 % of gasoline in Brazil. More than 448 bioethanol production (first-generation ethanol) units are functional, which fulfill the 25 % ethanol blending to gasoline that eventually reduces the import of 550 million oil barrels improving the socioeconomic status and saving foreign exchange reserves. Brazil has more than 80 % of its light vehicles running on bioethanol, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At present, this demand for ethanol is being met through first-generation (1G) ethanol which is directly produced from sugarcane juice and molasses. However, significant research in bioenergy in the last two decades has shown the possibilities of commercialization of second …