Our collective sweet tooth fuels its own economy, and a nation.

Sugar, derived from Sugarcane, it’s the world’s most-produced crop (by production quantity) and it’s capable of fuelling much of its own production. Sugar is also now putting Mauritius on the map as a leading producer of bio-energy in which up to 14% of its annual electricity production is fuelled by the sugar industry.
Bagasse, which is a by-product of the sugar production process, is what remains of the stalks of sugarcane after the liquids have been extracted. It is used as a fuel both in the boiling process in sugar production, as well as electricity production. Nearly one third of the raw sugarcane that is put through the extraction process will end up as bagasse; and provides sufficient heat and electricity to power the process, with some to spare for electricity generation.
Combined with Wind and Solar electricity generation, bagasse fuelled bio-energy is helping Mauritius reach its immediate goals of producing 35% of its energy from renewable sources. As a carbon neutral energy source, bagasse-fuelled electricity generation can help regulate the integration of other renewable sources in the grid that would otherwise rely on fossil fuels for their spinning reserve.
Maruritius is also only but a relatively small producer of sugar and other economies such as Brazil and India with much larger production capabilities are also reaping the benefits of the energy potential of sugarcane by going beyond just using the waste and by-products; but, also develop bio-ethanol from the crop and sugar itself.
Brazil is the world’s second largest producer of ethanol fuel, behind the United States though is considered to be the world leader in sustainable biofuels development. Decades of ethanol friendly legislation and stimulation have given Brazil the leading position in ethanol energy and no other nation has, for example, the penetration of flex-fuel vehicles as Brazil does today.