To improve the efficiency of ethanol production in a batch fermentation from sweet sorghum juice under a very high gravity (VHG) condition (similar to 290 g/L of total sugar) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NP01, repeated-batch fermentation under an aerated condition (2.5 vvm for the first 4 h during every cycle) was done in a 5-L fermenter. The average ethanol concentration (P), productivity (Q(p)) and yield (Y-p/s) for five successive cycles were 112.31 g/L, 1.55 g/L.h(-1) and 0.44, respectively with 80.97% sugar consumption. To complete sugar consumption, the total sugar of the juice was reduced to a high gravity (HG) level (similar to 240 g/L). The results showed that yeast extract was not necessary for ethanol production, and aeration during every other cycle i.e., alternating cycles, was sufficient to promote both yeast growth and ethanol production. The average P, Q(p) and Y-p/s values for eight successive cycles with aeration during alternating cycles were 97.58 g/L, 1.98 g/L.h and 0.41, respectively with 91.21% sugar consumption. The total fatty acids in the yeast cells under the aerated condition were similar to 50% higher than without aeration, irrespective the initial sugar concentration, whereas the ergosterol contents under aeration condition were similar to 29% to 49% higher than those without aeration. (C) 2018 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.