Sugar Cane
Trip Start
Jan 24, 2011
1
12
16
Trip End
Feb 07, 2011
Where I stayed
Holiday Inn Express
Cuiaba, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil
Thursday, February 3, 2011
.Thursday - This morning the ladies had an opportunity to do some shopping in this city, while the men visited machinery dealorships. This afternoon we will see the third largest ethanol plants in Brazil, it has been in operation for 30 years - and you learned how they have achieved a positive energy status. This company has 20% profit from energy. This plant has total production of 5 ½ million ton. They have 70,000 hectare of which 98% is harvested by mechanization. They can harvest 28,000 tons/day. Sugar is also a by-product, of which 20% is exported. During harvest they employ 4000 people. The harvest season begins in April. Planting happens during February and currently they plant 40% by hand, and 60% by machine. The seed stock is grown on the farm from seed. Every year they plant 8000 hectares, and the plant lives 5 years, one year after it is planted, it can be harvested. The yield from the first year is 110 ton/yr on a first year plant, down to 60 ton/yr on a 5 year old plant. Harvest will take from 8 to 9 months. One ton of sugar cane can produce 84 liters of ethanol (720 gal/acre), or 115 Kilo of sugar, (Price of sugar is 78 Reals/bag of 60 kilos, last year the price was 40 Real/bag of 60 kilos). They sell 1 liter of ethanol which cost 1.22 Real. Last year a liter of ethanol was .80 Real), compared to corn yield that produces 2.7 gallon/bushel. The gas station sells ethanol for 1.80/liter. The cost to produce ethanol is $.70/liter with tax, and without tax it is $.46/liter. The cost of producing ethanol from corn is $ This plant produces a combination of sugar and ethanol, depending on what the market needs. Last year the plant produced 5 million sacks of sugar, each sack weighed 60 Kilos, and 3 ½ million liters of ethanol. Sugar that is processed naturally will be a brown color, and after it is treated with a chemical process will turn white. Sugar cane is the source of the alcohol, produced by crushing the sugar cane and leaving the stalk fiber as a by-product. This product, after having been run through the crusher twice, looks similar to dry silage. It is piled up and later burned in large steam furnaces. These furnaces produce the steam that provides the energy to run the plant, including electricity. There is more energy produced than needed, so the extra is sold off. Brazil has a mandatory 25% alcohol in every gallon of gas sold. Their late-model "flex fuel" vehicles can burn any percent of alcohol, including 100% fossil fuel or 100% alcohol. Brazil has become energy self-sufficient as of March 2006
Comments
Peggy,
What an amazing trip and what a amazing job you are doing sharing photos and your daily updates with all of us it is almost like we are sharing this experience with all of you. The weather appears to be outstanding much like our is aweful,,,,20+ inches of snow our pictures are much less amazing as yours. Have fun everyone and thank you for sharing your time with Peggy and your thoughts.
Jerry