Abstract:
Sugar cane energy products, ethanol and
bagasse, have made a significant contribution
to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in Brazil, substituting fossil fuels,
gasoline and fuel oil, respectively.
However, fossil fuels are used in the
operations of planting, harvesting, transportation
and processing of the sugar cane, resulting in
GHG emissions. Energy and GHG balances
are required to evaluate the net effects during
the complete well-to-wheel cycle of ethanol,
i.e. ethanol production from sugar cane and its
use as fuel in the transport sector. To facilitate
the comparison with other studies, the GHG
data are presented as CO2 equivalent
emissions (CO2
eq.).
Author:
Isaias de Carvalho Macedo
Institution:
Government of the State of São Paulo