Cost-effective energy concepts in the sugar industry

The high proportion of energy costs in the costs of production makes the pursuit of the energy concept in sugar factories, as in energy-intensive industries in general, an important component of business strategy. The evolution of electricity and fuel prices over the coming years is difficult to forecast for various reasons (effects of environmental protection and emission trading, growing scarcity of oil and natural gas, etc.). For the medium term, rising energy prices are to be expected. Again this background, thinking in energy-intensive industries is currently moving in the following directions: - Step-by-step expansion of energy production building on a cost-effective basic process, e.g. installation of a low-pressure boiler with a one-stage steam turbine set. The basic process can later be expanded to agas or steam turbine power plant or to a coal powerplant. - Energy concept with coal and/or substitute fuels as the primary energy sources. Uncertain here is the price development of the substitute fuels (additional payment currently about EURO50/t). - Use of various fuels. In order to take into account the different development of fuel prices, the concepts under planning embrace two fuels, residues/substitutes and natural gas. Cost-effectiveness remains the decisive factor. With combined heat-power plants, the price difference between electricity and fuels is the most important magnitude with a view to the amortization period. Energy plants are capital-intensive, and a point to be considered is whether these plants can be better utilized by increasing production.