Abstract
This paper presents a thermodynamic model of a proposed firm power plant co-fired with
bagasse and coal under South African conditions. It proposes the energy conversion for a 2.5 million tonnes of sugarcane per year sugar factory and demonstrates that a power plant of up to 120 MW can be supported by such a facility. Carbon emissions are quantified and compared to a 120 MW coal only power plant, to establish expected environmental benefits. It demonstrates the technical feasibility of power plant development in the South African sugar industry and contributes to informed decisions on partly renewable energy power plants.