Paper details

Title:

Environmental Sustainability of Sweet-Sorghum Hybrids Biorefinery Complex

Author(s):

Grassi, G., Salimbeni, A.

Document(s):

Abstract:

New sweet sorghum hybrids are promising multifunctional energy crops and the most photosynthetic efficient terrestrial biomass crops. Especially in tropical regions, sorghum hybrids by two cycles/year approach the annual productivity of micro-algae that reach sometimes a 6% of photosynthetic efficiency. In fact, for sweet sorghum numerous experimental trials anticipate yields of 180 fresh tons/ha per year. The exploitation of such crop for the coproduction of several bulk energy products (i.e. bioethanol; power/heat; agro pellets; biogas/compost; etc…) anticipate significative benefits from the economic and CO2 mitigation point of view. This paper analyses the economic and environmental possibilities of a sweet sorghum complex based on a no waste biomass process, where plantation products are recycled and processed using different technologies in order to highly increase both the economic feasibility and the environmental sustainability of the biorefinery. Many different solution, regarding a tropical region cultivation, transportation, logistics, utilities and energy production have been evaluated.

Keywords:

biorefinery, CO₂ balance, ethanol, fertilization, logistics, sweet sorghum

Topic:

Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability

Subtopic:

International cooperation

Event:

20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

5BO.12.3

Pages:

2044 - 2048

ISBN:

978-88-89407-54-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-5BO.12.3

Price:

FREE