Economic and financial viability of sweet potato ethanol production in microdistilleries

Abstract

Renewable energy demand is expanding worldwide and it is stimulating the biofuel sector. Sweet potato, due to its productivity and edaphoclimatic adaptation, has potential for ethanol generation. This crop also plays an important social role, as it is directly linked to peasant production systems. As every project needs planning before execution, we proposed to analyze the economic and financial viability of sweet potato ethanol production in microdistilleries. Simulations were carried out in twelve scenarios, varying factors such as costs, starch content, taxes, and the sale price. Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, and Payback were used as
study tools. The most promising scenarios were those with a microdistillery production capacity of 807 L day-1 and direct sales to the consumer. Scenario twelve, involving 58 farmers supplying 30 Mg ha-1 of sweet potato to the plant, with a starch content of 300 g kg-1, plant operation for 11 months per year, sales price BRL 2.92 L-1, and exemption from PIS/Pasep and Cofins taxes, was the most attractive. It resulted in an NPV of BRL 4,053,178.70, 39% IRR and Payback of 4.43 years. Scenarios with ethanol production of 403 L day-1 proved to be unfeasible or unattractive economically.