NEW ENERGY OPTIONS IN THE AUSTRALIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY

Since the introduction of the 2% renewables requirement in the electricity industry, there have been significant incentives for Australian sugar mills to improve their energy performance. With the addition of an attached distillery, opportunities become available to integrate feedstocks, processes and products to further enhance renewable energy output and the income available to mills. Complementary feedstocks such as sweet sorghum, which can be handled using existing field, transport and factory equipment, provide opportunities to improve asset utilisation while increasing income from electricity. Under appropriate farming regimes and weather, a mill could potentially operate from Easter to Christmas, providing benefits of extended employment, extra regional income and community flow-ons.