Sweet Sorghum Plantation Can Substitute ~ 11 TOE of Net of TOE 11 ~ Substitute Can Plantation Sorghum Sweet of Ha One

LAMNET_OK6 10-03-2005 9:16 Pagina 1

also utilised for power generation. generation. power for utilised also

energy without any negative CO negative any without energy emission into the atmosphere the into emission 2

Sorghum is very important (3-5 times the energy content of sugar). of content energy the times (3-5 important very is Sorghum annual emissions of ~ 65 – 94 mio or ~300 mio t CO t mio ~300 or mio 94 – 65 ~ of emissions annual /y if solid biomass is biomass solid if /y

2 One ha of Sweet Sorghum plantation can substitute ~ 11 TOE of net of TOE 11 ~ substitute can plantation Sorghum Sweet of ha One

The valorisation of the energy content of the solid component of Sweet of component solid the of content energy the of valorisation The

total duction of sugar cane or Sweet Sorghum could reduce the CO the reduce could Sorghum Sweet or cane sugar of duction

2 /ha CO t Total 45 ~ 2

(127 mio t in year 1999). In fact with 1,9% of total arable area, the pro- the area, arable total of 1,9% with fact In 1999). year in t mio (127 (combustion)

during the growing cycle growing the during

contribute towards the reduction of greenhouse annual gas emissions gas annual greenhouse of reduction the towards contribute

~ 35,0 t CO t 35,0 ~ /ha: for utilisation utilisation for /ha:

10,1 sugar into Bioethanol into sugar

/ha CO t 45 ~ crop the By Sub Saharan Africa substituting fossil fuels could have great benefits to benefits great have could fuels fossil substituting Africa Saharan Sub

/ha: for conversion for /ha: CO t 8,5 ~

4. For conversion of Solid Biomass into H into Biomass Solid of conversion For 4. and and 2

/ha; (growing cycle) cycle) (growing /ha; CO t 1,5 ~ 2 22,4 3. For production of pellets from solid biomass solid from pellets of production For 3.

CO Emission Absorption CO

2 2 .Cneso nyo ua oehnl6,5 ethanol to sugar of only Conversion 2. usiuinsubstitution substitution

.Frcneso rdcs iehnladples 15,3 pellets. and Bioethanol products: conversion For 1. 100% Kerosene 100% Kerosene Kerosene 100% Kerosene 100% Cooking gel - fuel - gel Cooking below:

o rppouto (r ims)25,23 biomass) (dry production crop For

15 % 15 % 15 % 15 Diesel blending Diesel

repartition of the CO the of repartition emissions during the entire cycle are indicated are cycle entire the during emissions 2

processes: consumption consumption consumption consumption tons of sugars/ha + 20 dry ton/ha of solid biomass) the absorption & absorption the biomass) solid of ton/ha dry 20 + sugars/ha of tons

Typical Energy Performances (per ha): related to different conversion conversion different to related ha): (per Performances Energy Typical Gasoline blending 25 % of total 25 % of total of % 25 total of % 25 blending Gasoline

sing procedures. For Sweet Sorghum closed systems (productivity of 8 of (productivity systems closed Sorghum Sweet For procedures. sing

Market : :

depend on the local conditions (agronomic practice) and the proces- the and practice) (agronomic conditions local the on depend

(energy outputs/energy inputs) R= 25,23 R= inputs) outputs/energy (energy

9,9 4,3 4,3 9,9 N. of Jobs (million) Jobs of N. Balance = 0. = Balance The crop absorption and emission (repartition) levels (repartition) emission and absorption crop The

Energy Performance per ha of Sweet Sorghum Production Sorghum Sweet of ha per Performance Energy

(billion $) 47 (agriculture) 31 (agriculture) (agriculture) 31 (agriculture) 47 $) (billion

Total CO Total 2 Sorghum closed schemes are CO are schemes closed Sorghum neutral presenting a a presenting neutral 2

28 (industrial); 19 (industrial) 19 (industrial); 28 Investments Investments

tion (combustion) further CO further (combustion) tion emission is produced, but globally Sweet globally but produced, is emission

/day) 330 -day/y operation -day/y 330 /day) m (40

cultivation. During the following pre-treatment, conversions and utilisa- and conversions pre-treatment, following the During cultivation.

,7 2co ylsy 4,000 cycles/y; crop -2 5,770 N. of Distilleries Distilleries of N.

total absorbed), emitted for the use of conventional energy during its during energy conventional of use the for emitted absorbed), total

Total Output of the crop production: 74,500 production: crop the of Output Total

(billion li/y) (billion

(~ 4 % of the of % 4 (~ – 5 months growing cycle, with a small amount of CO of amount small a with cycle, growing months 5 – 2 2

143 61 Bioethanol Production Production Bioethanol

&grain

city to absorb large amounts of CO of amounts large absorb to city from the atmosphere during the 4 the during atmosphere the from

(fresh) t/ha (fresh) Bagasse, leaves Bagasse, 021043,000 2,150 20 ~

plant cycle (120 – 150 days) sweet sorghum has an impressive capa- impressive an has sorghum sweet days) 150 – (120 cycle plant

670 46 Productivity Productivity Sugars ~ 8 (in juice) 3,940 (Mcal/t) 31,500 31,500 (Mcal/t) 3,940 juice) (in 8 ~

Due to its high productivity (20 – 40 dry ton/growing cycle) and fast and cycle) ton/growing dry 40 – (20 productivity high its to Due

(1,9% arable land) arable (1,9%

(t/ha) equivalences (Mcal/ha) (Mcal/ha) equivalences (t/ha)

Absorption and Performance of Sweet Sorghum Sweet of Performance and Absorption CO 2

tlAe moh) 2312,3 12,3 ha) (mio Area otal T Production Energetic Energetic outputs Energetic Energetic Production

Sweet - Sorghum Sugar – Cane Cane – Sugar Sorghum - Sweet

Summary & Conclusions (Sweet Sorghum-Sugar cane -S.S.Africa) cane Sorghum-Sugar (Sweet Conclusions & Summary ~850 euro/ha ~850 lignocellulosics into pellets, the estimated values are as follows: follows: as are values estimated the pellets, into lignocellulosics Total Sweet Sorghum Production Cost Production Sorghum Sweet Total

Energy Outputs: Energy 300 euro/ha 300 In case of conversion of sugar into Bioethanol and of and Bioethanol into sugar of conversion of case In Total Labour Cost (20 euro/h) (20 Cost Labour Total

Total 15 h/man 15 Total Sweet Sorghum to sugar cane is presented here below: here presented is cane sugar to Sorghum Sweet

asot1 ransport T

spects and development opportunities in Sub-Saharan Sub-Saharan in opportunities development and spects Africa”, comparing Africa”,

T otal Input for the crop production crop the for Input otal 4,850

avsig2 Harvesting duction. In summary (Source World Bank) a study on the “Bioethanol pro- “Bioethanol the on study a Bank) World (Source summary In duction.

asot1,600 ransport T

3 Irrigation more promising crop in comparison with sugar cane for Bioethanol pro- Bioethanol for cane sugar with comparison in crop promising more

250 Seeds, separation and others and separation Seeds, etcdsTetet1,5 Treatment Pesticides of Brasil, some areas of Africa, China, etc.), Sweet Sorghum is an even an is Sorghum Sweet etc.), China, Africa, of areas some Brasil, of

eig1,5 eeding W In some particular areas with scarcity of water and poor quality soil (North soil quality poor and water of scarcity with areas particular some In Pesticides 185

edn 2 Seeding

etlzr 1115 Fertilizers

1 Fertilization the present world primary energy consumption. energy primary world present the

etlzr n etcds1,300 pesticides and Fertilizers

in a very long term (2050 and beyond) reach the amount equivalent to the 75% of 75% the to equivalent amount the reach beyond) and (2050 term long very a in olPeaain3 Preparation Soil

937 Harvesting ** The total world energy supply from high – energy sorghum and sugar cane could cane sugar and sorghum energy – high from supply energy world total The ** Quantity (h/man) Quantity

riain210 Irrigation

for Cultivation of Sweet Sorghum (1 ha) (1 Sorghum Sweet of Cultivation for term) Sugar cane Sugar term)

Pesticides treatment Pesticides 16

E.U. Production Cost & Labour Labour & Cost Production E.U.

Sorghum or Sorghum (very long long (very

edn 129 Weeding

orld** 900 Sweet 4,300 7,300 7,300 4,300 Sweet 900 orld** W

600 mm. mm. 600

50 Seeding

China 9 45 75 75 45 9 China • Water demand is 200 m 200 is demand Water • /t with an average rainfall need of 500 to 500 of need rainfall average an with /t

3 etlzto 15,5 Fertilization

Africa 12,3 60 50 50 60 12,3 Africa daylight hours; daylight

edbdpeaain37 preparation bed Seed Brasil 33 160 270 270 160 temperature of 8°C – 10°C; Sweet Sorghum is a plant for limited for plant a is Sorghum Sweet 10°C; – 8°C of temperature

luhn 305,5 Ploughing E U –25 25 120 205 205 120 25 –25 U E up to 4,600°C during the growing cycle with minimum germination minimum with cycle growing the during 4,600°C to up

(mio ha) (mio t/y) (M.TOE/y) (M.TOE/y) t/y) (mio ha) (mio prto ftemcie 1,700 machines the of Operation Temperature: total accumulated daily temperature from 2,600 °C 2,600 from temperature daily accumulated total Temperature: • •

AREA BIOETHANOL PELLETS BIOFUEL PELLETS BIOETHANOL AREA • Soil salinity: better resistance than corn; than resistance better salinity: Soil •

Energy Inputs: Energy • Soil acidity: PH 4,5 to 8,5; to 4,5 PH acidity: Soil •

mass/ha

• Soil quality: acceptable heavy clay or high % of sand; of % high or clay heavy acceptable quality: Soil •

of Sweet Sorghum (Mcal/ha) Sorghum Sweet of

* Assuming a Sweet Sorghum productivity of 8 t sugar/ha and 20 dry ton bio- ton dry 20 and sugar/ha t 8 of productivity Sorghum Sweet a Assuming *

Energy Inputs and Outputs for 1 ha ha 1 for Outputs and Inputs Energy years) 20 term: (medium Potential Sorghum* Sweet Practice Agronomic & Requirement Cultivation

Sweet Sorghum Productivity LATIN AMERICA THEMATIC NETWORK ON BIOENERGY The productivity of Sweet Sorghum largely depends on many para- LAMNET meters: -climatic condition (temperature, precipitation), soil quality, variety of Sweet Sorghum, agronomic practice. Typical values are presented here below (EU Trials):

SWEET SORGHUM

Figure 1: Sugar distribution One of the best world food-feed-energy crop G. Grassi Table: high saccharose crop (377 ZH 101/KWS) Stem fresh and dry matter and sugar yields of Sweet Sorghum in various EU regions. Ranges within regions are due to varieties, Saccharose 7,13 % years and/or treatment effect. Glucose 1,74 % Fructose 1,04 %

Particularly interesting are varieties developed in China since the year 1970, that show a more equilibrated spread between sugar, starch Export of Microelements due to Sweet Sorghum and lignocellulosics yields: Production (yield: 65 fresh t/ha) • Grains ~ 5 t/ha • N= 119 kg/ha (~1,8 kg/t) • Sugar ~ 7,5 t/ha • P2O5 = 24 kg/ha (~ 0,03 kg/t) • Lignocellulosic ~ 14,5 d.t/ha • K2O = 10,8 kg/ha (~ 0,16 kg/t) Sweet Sorghum is an extraordinarily promising multifunctional crop not Fertilising Value of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse only for its high economic value (due to its high sustainable productivity These data are frequently used as base for an economic evaluation of • N = 0,45 % of humid bagasse weight ~20 to 50 dry t/ha and to the wide range of its products: grains, sugar, commercial bioenergy schemes. Of course, for large size projects, the • P2O5 = 0,22 % of humid bagasse weight lignocellulosics) but also for its capacity to provide a very wide range of same results can also be obtained by the adoption of two sweet sor- • K2O = 0,71 % of humid bagasse weight renewable energy products, industrial commodities, food (grains & ghum varieties: one presenting a much higher grain yield (i.e. hybrid Fertilising Value of Sweet Sorgum Distillery Stillage sugar) & animal feed products. Rio & Soave: ~ 8 t/ha) combined with others presenting higher sugar • N = 0,2 % of stillage weight Sweet Sorghum can be considered thus a crop of universal value, & lignocellulosic yields. • P2O5= 0,22 % of stillage weight because it can be grown in all continents, in tropical, sub-tropical, tem- • K2O = 0,30 % of stillage weight perate regions as well as in poor quality soils and in semi-arid regions. Biomass distribution (typical): The climatic conditions for successful Sweet Sorghum plantations are: Published by • Cane: up to 75 % of its weight during the plant cycle (120 – 150 days) the accumulated daily tem- • Leaves: 10 – 15 % of its weight peratures above 10 °C must be 2600- 4600°C • Grains: up to 7 % Piazza Savonarola, 10 - 50132 Florence – Italy Sylvensteinstr. 2 - 81369 Munich – Germany • Roots: ~ 10% Tel. +39 055 5002174 - Fax +39 055 573425 Tel. +49 89 720 127 35 - Fax +49 89 720 127 91 In some regions it is therefore possible to obtain two plantations per [email protected] - www.etaflorence.it [email protected] - www.wip-munich.de year reaching full maturity and a large production. Other interesting For German High Latitude sites (Braunschweig: 52° 17’ 35’’ North) issues relevant to Sweet Sorghum are: Sweet Sorghum Korall varieties, developed by KWS Co., since 1982 • Its low water requirements 1/3 of sugar cane, 1/2 of corn, 1/4 of were able to produce 20 d.t/ha with an accumulated solar radiation of Short Rotation Forestry. 2 Rond Point Schuman, 6 - B 1040 Brussels – Belgium 500 MJ/m (as in Grignon, France). It is estimated that a biomass yield Tel. +32 2 28 28 420 - Fax +32 2 2828 424 • Its high capacity to absorb CO2 (~45 t CO2/ha per cycle), 3 times of 80 fresh tons/ha and a sugar production of ~7 ton/ha will be possi- [email protected] - www.eubia.org more than Short Rotation Forestry. ble in future. Content elaborated by Dr. G. Grassi, Secretary General EUBIA, Brussels, The USA plantations between 21° and 47° latitude yield between 50 with the assistance of F. Vivarelli, ETA, Florence This publication has been realised in the framework of LAMNET, thematic network funded by the European Commission, to 90 tons (fresh)/ha with sugar yields from 4 to 17 tons/ha. Neither the publishers, nor the European Commission or any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the information contained in this publication. DG Research, Programme “Confirming the international role of Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Community Research” (Project no. ICA4-CT-2001-10106)