Bioenergy – the renewable energy derived from plant and animal waste products – is largely ignored in South Africa. Solar energy, wind power, and green hydrogen attract most investment in renewable energy.
Sugarcane trash (the discarded leaves and tops of the plant) is a good example of plant waste that could be turned into energy. But it’s overlooked.
South Africa is a major sugarcane producer, producing about 2.2 million tonnes of refined sugar per season. This generates an estimated average direct income of over R20 billion (more than US$1 billion) per year.
