200,000 Tons of Sugar and 300,000 m3 of Alcohol
Barra Grande is one of three mills of the Zillo Lorenzetti Group part of Copersucar. Brazil leads the world in the production of ethanol - 12.5 million m3 out of a total of 33 million m3. And presently, 46.1% of primary energy production in Brazil is sourced from renewable energy with 14.7% coming from sugar cane!
Barra Grande is one of the most efficient mills in terms of sugar recovery and energy production in Brazil. In the last season (190 days), Barra Grande crushed 3,500,000 tons of sugar cane, produced 180,000 m3 of alcohol, 200,000 tons of sugar and co-generated 200,000 MWh.
That much sugar makes Barra Grande one of the bigger producers. To orchestrate such a large operation, trucks are going day and night to the sugar cane fields from mid May to December. Here a truck leaves the plant with two hoppers in tow. Note the endless green fields of sugar cane in the background.
And Barra Grande scores as one of the best in employee care. Brazil has been known to employ children in the sugar cane industry, but BG stands against the practice.
In fact, their employees are some of the most well cared for in the business.
Here, a truck comes back full to the mill, driving up to unload four bins of sugar cane.
Let me show you how Zillo Lorenzetti uses cane to produce more than just sweet stuff!