--- title: "This Island Nation is Getting Power From Sugarcane Instead of Oil" description: "The island nation of Mauritius is now generating 14 percent of its electricity by burning sugarcane byproducts. Here's why it matters." date: "2018-12-09" modified: "2018-12-10" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/island-nation-power-sugarcane-instead-oil" categories: - "Energy" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "clean energy" - "Fossil Fuels" - "mauritius" - "sugar cane" - "the digest" --- # This Island Nation is Getting Power From Sugarcane Instead of Oil ![The island nation of Mauritius is now generating 14 percent of its electricity by burning sugarcane byproducts. Here's why it matters.]() *\Image: Pexels\* ## Pour Some Sugar On Me The island nation of Mauritius has little in the way of natural resources — historically, it's [depended on imported petroleum]() to generate electricity. But increasingly, [according to *Phys.org*](), leadership on the island is preparing for an energy-scarce future. They're investing in solar, wind and hydropower, but also leveraging a key crop on the island: sugar cane, which is now generating enough biomass to provide an impressive 14 percent of the island's power. ## Bilbo Bagasse Mauritius, which is a small island a bit to the East of Madagascar, is generating the power by burning a material called "bagasse," which is left over after sugarcane is processed. Power producers are recapturing carbon dioxide from the power generation process and using it to "add the fizz to soft drinks," according to *Phys.org.* Researchers have already [heralded bagasse]() as a promising manufacturing material, but Mauritius is now demonstrating that it can also be an economical power source as well — even if it's ultimately a stopgap to other renewables. ## Why It Matters Mauritius' energy innovations could presage the future of many other areas in the world, as areas where once-cheap fossil fuel energy start to feel the crunch of dwindling global fossil fuel resources. "The government's goal is to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 35 percent by 2025," Mauritian deputy prime minister and energy minister Ivan Collendavelloo told *Phys.org*. "The 35 percent is not far off; we will have 11 solar parks by next year and at least two wind farms." **READ MORE:** [In Mauritius, sugar cane means money, renewable energy]() \[*Phys.org*\] ***More on Mauritius:*** [“Ethereum Island” May Soon Exist Off the Coast of Africa]() ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()