SUGARCANE AND ENERGY CANE, A VALUABLE BIOFUEL SUBSTITUTE FOR PETROLEUM GASOLINE

This chapter examines the progressive role of sugarcane in sustainable biofuel production, highlighting the distinctions between first-, second-, and third-generation (1G, 2G, and 3G) ethanol. First-generation ethanol is derived from the fermentation of sugars in sugarcane juice, but this method is constrained by limited productivity and a tradeoff between sucrose and fiber content. Sec-ond-generation ethanol improves upon this by utilizing lignocellulosic residues such as bagasse and straw, enhancing energy yield per hectare without expanding land use. However, it requires complex pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis processes. Advances like deep eutectic solvents, mechanocatalysis, and engineered microbes are improving the feasibility of 2G ethanol. The third-generation approach targets non-food biomass sources such as marine algae and enhanced energy cane varieties, which offer high fiber content and adaptability to marginal environments. These 3G technologies promise carbon-neutral fuel but remain chal-lenged by high costs, energy-intensive hydrolysis, and the need for optimized microbial fermentation of diverse sugars. Energy cane emerges as a key transitional crop, offering superior yields (up to 180 tons per hectare), greater stress tolerance through robust rhizome systems, and multi-cycle productivity, thereby lowering operational costs and supporting bioelectricity co-generation. While 1G ethanol is well-established and 2G is commercially emerging, 3G holds the most transformative potential by addressing food security concerns, maximizing biomass conversion, and aligning with low-carbon economic goals. Ultimately, energy cane acts as a vital “green necklace” connecting traditional and future biofuel strategies, reinforcing Brazil’s potential leadership in global renewable energy transitions.