Potential of Sugarcane Bagasse for Bioenergy Production in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria

Sugarcane cultivation in Adamawa State generates considerable agricultural residue in the form of bagasse, a fibrous by-product with established potential as a bioenergy feedstock for heat and electricity generation. This study investigates the bioenergy potential of sugarcane bagasse at the Savannah Sugar Company in Numan, Adamawa State, North East Nigeria, focusing on feedstock availability, energy content, and options for combined heat and power generation. Field surveys and company production records were used to quantify annual bagasse output across three cropping seasons. Laboratory analyses determined proximate and ultimate properties of bagasse samples, including moisture content, calorific value, and ash composition. The study reviews three thermochemical conversion pathways, namely direct combustion, gasification, and pelletisation, evaluating each against local technical and institutional capacity. A heat balance model was constructed to assess the viability of replacing the company's heavy fuel oil consumption with bagasse-fired boilers. Results indicate that current bagasse output could displace 64 percent of heavy fuel oil use while generating surplus electricity for export to neighbouring communities. Environmental benefits including greenhouse gas emission reductions are quantified using lifecycle analysis. Keywords: sugarcane bagasse, bioenergy, Adamawa State, combined heat and power, agricultural residue.