 |
US. Ethanol plants using less energy, producing more ethanol per bushel
04.06.2010 11:25 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Corn ethanol plants continue to cut their energy use while at the same time producing more ethanol per bushel of corn, the Nebraska Corn Board noted in reviewing a national study conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago and published in the scientific journal Biotechnology Letters.
«This underscores the importance of using current data when it comes to estimating the life cycle analysis of ethanol production,» said the Nebraska Corn Board’s Randy Klein. «Using outdated data just doesn’t work, nor does the assumption that today’s estimates will be valid tomorrow. The ethanol industry continues to develop, which is why one cannot label today’s ethanol industry as mature.»
The study, conducted by Dr. Steffen Mueller at the Energy Resources Center at the university, examined energy use and ethanol output for dry mill ethanol facilities. More than 85% of the ethanol produced in the U.S. comes from dry mill facilities.
For the study, the researchers surveyed 90 of the 150 dry mill ethanol plants operating during 2008. Results were compared to a 2001 survey conducted by BBI International on behalf of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
In 2001, ethanol plants used an average of 36,000 Btu of thermal energy and 1.09 kWh of electrical energy, per gallon of ethanol. They also produced 2.64 gallons of ethanol per bushel.
Ethanol plants in 2008 used an average of 25,859 Btu of thermal energy and 0.74 kWh of electricity per gallon of ethanol produced-that’s 28% and 32% less than 2001, respectively. Ethanol per bushel of corn, meanwhile, increased 5.3% to 2.78 gallons per bushel.
According to the survey, many older dry mill ethanol plants installed energy efficiency retrofits during that time period.
«Like corn farmers, who continuously strive to produce more corn with fewer inputs, ethanol plants get more efficient and productive over time,» Klein said. «Regulations and fuel standards should not be implemented without taking that into consideration.»
The survey also showed that a dry mill corn ethanol plant in 2008 produced 5.3 pounds of dried distillers grains and 2.15 pounds of wet distillers grains per gallon of ethanol produced. On a per bushel basis, that is 20.7 pounds of total distillers grains produced per bushel of corn converted into ethanol.
Ethanol plants also, on average, sourced corn within a 47-mile radius from the plant.
07.03.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
16:14 |
EBRD extends new guarantee to OTP Leasing Ukraine to unlock EUR160 million of new finance |
27.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
08:34 |
EBRD revises down Ukraine’s 2025 growth forecast |
26.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
10:01 |
Pistachios. Global production for 2024/25 is forecast to rise 7 percent to 1.2 million metric tons |
 |
09:47 |
An ambitious vision for agriculture that seeks to reconnect with on-the-ground realities cannot ignore the debate on the CAP budget |
19.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
10:43 |
“Bold investments” needed to address challenging nutritional burden in Africa, FAO says |
 |
07:13 |
Green Climate Fund greenlights two major FAO-led projects to strengthen climate resilience in Kenya and Serbia |
12.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
10:01 |
China Corn Imports Fall on Weaker Domestic Demand |
 |
09:06 |
China’s Imported Oilseed Meal Supplies Shift Slightly to Mid-Protein Meals |
08.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
18:20 |
Cereal stocks set to decline in 2024/25 due to anticipated reductions in wheat and maize inventories |
 |
18:00 |
FAO Food Price index declined in January 2025, mostly due to lower sugar, vegetable oil and meat prices |
06.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
16:28 |
Ukraine considers SCZone site for food hub in Egypt – ministry |
 |
16:16 |
Since the beginning of 2025, 549 agricultural enterprises have received UAH 2.3 billion under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9 programme published |
03.02.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
23:55 |
Ukraine's Ministry of Agrarian policy allocates sugar export quotas to EU |
31.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
17:20 |
Global orange production for 2024/25 is forecast down 662,000 tons to 45.2 MT |
 |
17:15 |
Argentina Lemon/Lime Exports Continue to Decline |
24.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
16:38 |
Ukraine’s agricultural sector earned $24.5 bln in 2024, setting second historical record |
23.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
15:46 |
Eurobarometer survey shows strong support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) |
22.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
20:54 |
Since the beginning of 2025, 117 agricultural enterprises have received UAH 318.7 million under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9 programme |
 |
20:43 |
Ukrainian agricultural land needs to be cleared and returned to circulation as soon as possible |
21.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
21:45 |
A groundbreaking new study, “Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030”. Key Findings |
 |
21:37 |
Nitrogen use efficiency must be improved to reduce harm to human and environmental health |
11.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
11:16 |
Russia Grain Export Quota to Curb Wheat Exports in 2025 |
 |
09:12 |
Iraq Emerges as a Soybean Importer |
08.01.2025 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
22:13 |
FAO Food Price Index dips during the month of December |
 |
18:49 |
FAO calls for urgent action to address widening famine in Sudan |
22.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
05:26 |
FAO transfers 185 generators, 6,474 grain hoses to Ukrainian farmers in 2024 |
 |
03:53 |
The EU agri-food trade surplus increased by 15% in September 2024, reaching EUR 6 billion |
19.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
09:05 |
World coffee production for 2024/25 is forecast 6.9 million bags higher |
18.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
23:11 |
China’s Expanding Coffee Consumption |
17.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
22:37 |
Bangladesh Soybean Import Recovery Expected to Continue |
14.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
21:03 |
World apple production for 2024/25 is forecast to fall nearly 350,000 tons to 84.0 million |
13.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
09:11 |
U.S. Fresh Pear Exports Fall on Historically Low Harvest |
10.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
21:03 |
Indonesia Grain Imports to Subside after 2023/24 Record |
 |
08:14 |
Higher vegetable oil quotations drive up FAO Food Price Index, but lower cereal and sugar prices temper the rise |
 |
07:45 |
Cereal trade revised downwards amid weaker demand |
02.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
23:17 |
Prime Minister: Some 50 partner countries have joined the humanitarian demining coalition |
 |
22:56 |
Norway pledges additional $4.5 mln to Ukraine's Grain from Ukraine initiative |
01.12.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
03:30 |
EU agri-food trade slowed down in August 2024 |
26.11.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
00:06 |
Global sugar production, compared to last year, is estimated up 2.8 million tons to 186.6 million |
24.11.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
04:43 |
During the Operation of Our Grain From Ukraine Program, We Have Managed to Save 20 Million People from Hunger – Zelenskyy |
 |
04:15 |
Ukraine Is Ready to Share Technologies, Military Experiences and Processing Methods with African Countries – the President |
22.11.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
10:15 |
South Africa Sugar Production and Exports Estimated Down |
19.11.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
23:04 |
Global Olive Oil Production Forecast to Rebound in 2024/25 |
 |
22:47 |
Vitalii Koval discusses Ukraine's European integration with European colleagues |
 |
16:06 |
EBRD, European Union and United States help Kyiv prepare for winter |
18.11.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
09:21 |
Agriculture Development Strategy 2030 – a roadmap to the EU |
 |
09:19 |
Ukrainian farmers have sown 96% of projected winter crop area |
01.11.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
20:31 |
Ukraine has officially joined the International Fund for Agricultural Development |
 |
20:29 |
Ukrainian farmers harvested 63.7 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds |
25.10.2024 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
22:50 |
Agriculture hit hard: October port strikes rack up 30-40 million dollars in losses |
Also available:

|
|  |
|
 |