SYSTEM-ANALYSIS OF SWEET SORGHUM HARVEST FOR ETHANOL-PRODUCTION IN THE PIEDMONT

Three systems for harvesting and processing sweet sorghum stalks to produce juice for fermentation to ethanol were compared using computer simulation. The costs are estimated at $0.56, $0.63, and $0.87/L of potential ethanol for Systems A, B, and C, respectively. The difference between Systems A and B was primarily due to the estimated values of the by-products produced by the systems, and since these values have not been thoroughly established, it was recommended that research continue on both System A and System B. Improvements in juice sugar levels from 15-degrees to 18-degrees Brix, and/or whole-stalk yields from 42 to 60 Mg/ha would significantly lower costs for all systems.