Sugarcane as feedstock for Biofuel, a business case of Natal Midlands, South Africa

Abstract

The nexus of sugarcane and renewable energy. Energy is crucial for economic advancement, as the global economy relies heavily on fossil fuels for energy production (Aluwani, 2023; Dimitriadis et al., 2021). The South African economy, is said to be the most industrialised, sophisticated, advanced and productive on the African continent (Nkosi et al., 2021). The economy is mainly based on extracting resources and powered by fossil fuels, leading to higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to countries of similar Gross domestic product (GDP) (Nkosi et al., 2021; van Ryneveld & Islar, 2023). According to Sasu (2023), in 2021, South Africa, whose main source of energy is coal, had the largest production-based carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Africa. Furthermore, van Ryneveld and Islar (2023) stated that the coal-intensive energy system dates back to the British colonial era, with all but two coal-fired power plants built during apartheid era. These power plants are gradually unable to sustain the South African economy, mainly due to a lack of maintenance, mismanagement, corruption and end of life, that has resulted in severe electricity blackouts (Andreoni et al., 2022; Sasu, 2023). The power plants are unsustainable from energy security, social and environmental perspectives, contributing significantly to pollution that is detrimental to human health (CIF, 2021) and climate change (Andreoni et al., 2022; Millar et al., 2022; The Daily Telegraph, 2022; van Ryneveld & Islar, 2023; Wernecke et al., 2022). Globally, sugarcane is used for renewable energy (Ajala et al., 2021; Kabeyi & Olanrewaju, 2023). There is a need for the South African economy to gradually shift from fossil fuel-based energy to a low-carbon energy mix, led by renewables, in order for the country to be energy secure, reduce pollution, reverse the effects of climate change, and remain competitive in the global economy (CIF, 2021; Gilani et al., 2020; IRENA, 2019; Parascanu et al., 2021; The Daily Telegraph, 2022; Wernecke et al., 2022).