Future Hybrid Local Energy Generation Paradigm for the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Scenario

This paper proposes a profitable, affordable hybrid generation power plant, to be integrated upon sugar cane plants, considering the Brazilian energy scenario. The future of energy generation is discussed and highlights are given to the Brazilian sugar cane industry, key national activity for the production of sugar and ethanol. A novel microgrid structure is proposed as a new approach to hybrid generation, which integrates the recycling of the sugar cane remains (as biomass and biogas) combined with the use of renewable sources, such as photovoltaic panels and wind power turbines, aiming to reduce environmental impact. The plant modeling is based on the Energy Hubs methodology, that allows the integration of different energy carriers in the same model. Simulation results show the satisfying microgrid operation and its flexibility to fulfill different energy production scenarios, as well as economic and sustainability gains. Profits and possible implementation costs are discussed, through a payback analysis.