In the past three to four years alone, some 20 sugar cane plants throughout Central America – one of the world’s leading sugar producing regions – have selected an ABB solution which enables them to become self-sufficient producers of energy while simultaneously increasing their revenues by as much as $1 million a year.
The solution uses a highly energy-efficient ABB variable speed drive system – consisting of ACS 1000 medium-voltage drives and high-efficiency induction motors – to replace inefficient steam turbines to control the consumption of electrical energy at the cane crushing mills.
One plant alone in Honduras has increased its annual revenues by $1 million, as well as enjoys other bottom-line benefits like rapid return on investment, reduced maintenance costs, higher uptime and improved process operation.
Sugar plants generate electricity by burning bagasse – the principal waste product after the juice is extracted from the cane – to produce steam for the turbines that run the cane crushing mill.