|
|
POWER
|
Bagasse when burned in quantity produces sufficient heat energy to supply all the
needs of a typical sugar mill, with enough energy to spare. To this end, a secondary
use for this waste product is in cogeneration, the use of a fuel source to provide
both heat energy, used in the mill and the electricity which is typically sold on
to the consumer through power grids.
|
The power produced through co-generation substitutes the conventional
thermal alternative and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In India, interest in
high-efficiency bagasse based cogeneration started in the 1980s when electricity
supply started falling short of demand. High-efficiency bagasse cogeneration was
perceived as an attractive technology both in terms of its potential to produce
carbon neutral electricity as well as its economic benefits to the sugar sector.
In the present scenario, where fossil fuel prices are shooting up and there is a
shortage and non-availability of coal, co-generation appears to be a promising development.
The thrust on distributed generation and increasing awareness for cutting greenhouse
gas emissions increases the need for cogeneration. Also it helps in controlling
pollution from fossil fuels. The Company's current aggregate power generation capacity
stands at 22 MW - of which, 6 MW is surplus and free for export to state utilities.
|