Successful strategies for bioenergy scale-up: scaling up sustainable sugarcane

Abstract

This project aims to assist IRENA in preparing a report on Scaling Up Sustainable Sugarcane Bioenergy [in Africa and the Caribbean], which will assess bioethanol potential from sugarcane and energy cane, the costs of sugarcane or energy cane bioethanol compared with petroleum-derived petrol, the costs of electricity from sugarcane or energy residues compared with electricity from other sources, effective policy strategies to encourage ethanol and electricity production from sugarcane or energy cane, and potential benefits for economies and livelihoods of cane-based bioenergy expansion. The following activities should be developed: 1. Examine existing patterns of land use for sugarcane production and the associated technologies that can be applied to optimize production. 2. For each major land use pattern, assist IRENA staff in developing country and regional supply curves for sugarcane, sugarcane ethanol, and electricity generated from sugarcane residues. 3. Examine country and regional potential to free up land for sugarcane ethanol, without affecting food crop production, estimating how much additional sugarcane and ethanol that might then be forthcoming. 4. Assess the policies and measures that could be applied to raise food crop yields and reduce food losses. 5. Assess policies and measures to encourage electricity generation from cane residues, such as financing mechanisms, guaranteed grid access for electricity generated, and tariffs or auction mechanisms that take account of the environmental value of such generation. (AU)