Bagasse as an alternative source of energy Dharmendra D. Sapariya 1 , Prof. Nilesh R. Sheth 2 , Prof. Vijay K. Patel 3 M-Tech Student of Energy engineering, Department of Mechanical engineering in Gujarat technical University GEC Valsad, Gujarat, India 1 [sapariya_dharmendra@yahoo.com, Mob:-8866245022] Assistant Professor at Department of Energy engineering, Mechanical engineering GEC Valsad, Gujarat, India 2 Head of the Electrical Engineering Department, N.G. Patel Polytechnic, Isroli, Bardoli, Gujarat, India 3 Abstract: Every year millions of tons of agricultural wastes are generated which are either destroyed or burnt inefficiently in loose form causing air pollution. These wastes can be recycled & can provide a renewable source of energy by converting biomass waste into different form of energy sources. This recycled fuel is beneficial for the environment as it conserves natural resources. For this the biomass is the main renewable energy resource. In this paper the raw material including bagasse as biomass. Bagasse is the crushed outer stalk material formed after the juice is squeezed from sugar cane, in sugar mills. Bagasse characteristics vary in composition; consistency, etc. were densified into briquettes at high temperature and pressure using different technologies. We discuss the various advantages, factors that affecting the biomass briquetting and comparison between coal and bagasse briquetting. The details of the study were highlighted in this paper. Keywords: Biomass, Bagasse, Briquetting, Potential, Process, Technologies, sugarcane I. INTRODUCTION Many of the developing countries produce huge quantities of agro residues but they are used inefficiently causing extensive pollution to the environment. The major residues are bagasse as sugarcane production waste, rice husk, coffee husk, coir pith, jute sticks, groundnut shells, mustard stalks and cotton stalks. [1,2] India is the second biggest sugarcane growing country in the World, only behind Brazil. Pondicherry has many sugarcane plantations of its own, and surrounding Tamil Nadu is the biggest sugarcane growing states in the India. [3] Sugar industry is the second largest agro based industry in India after textile. About 5 crores of sugarcane farmers, their dependents and large mass of labourers are involved in sugarcane cultivation, harvesting and ancillary activities. This constitutes 7.5% of rural population. Dry leaves, left in field after harvest of sugarcane, are called trash. On an average, a hectare of sugarcane generates about 10 tonnes of trash. Because it has no value as cattle fodder, and because it also resists decomposition, the trash is burnt in situ, in order to clear the field for the next crop. The main waste product of sugarcane production is a material known as bagasse. Bagasse is the fibrous residue that remains in large quantities upon the crushing of sugarcane to remove the sugar juices. For each tonne of sugarcane crushed, about 300 kg of bagasse is retrieved. 1 Ton sugarcane = 300 Kg of bagasse Bagasse Pith is cellulose but not fibrous, and must be removed from bagasse in order to make good quality pulp from which to produce paper. Bagasse pith is usually removed in a process known as “moist de -pithing’ in the sugar factory itself. Following table indicate top most sugar factory in terms of sugar crushing across the south Gujarat. [2] TABLE 1.1: SUGERCANE FACTORIES AT SOUTH GUJARAT[2] Factory Bardoli Gandvi Madhi Chalthan Maroli Valsad Sayan Mahuva Unai Sugarcane crushed(MT) 1954267 1107100 1210012 1105891 243573 265332 1137206 661029 78961 Factory Ganesh Coper Kamrej Pandvai Narmada Vadodara Kodinar Talala Sugarcane crushed(MT) 592370 400219 510063 556741 715592 367029 241159 120936