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Ethanol Energy Efficiencies Improve
By Mr Ethanol | October 13, 2008
Stock and Land:
Ethanol production is more energy efficient than previously thought as processing plants continue to make upgrades and changes to improve the process.
A recent report by John Christianson, certified public accountant for the independent United States accounting firm Christianson & Associates PLLP, catalogues the energy improvements being made at ethanol biorefineries across the country.
According to the report, the average amount of energy, measured in British thermal units (Btus), required to produce ethanol and a livestock feed co-product across all ethanol production technologies was reduced 13.5pc between 2004 and 2007.
The most efficient biorefineries demonstrated an even more dramatic reduction in energy requirements of 19pc and today use fewer than 21,000 Btus/gal of ethanol produced (see table).
A large portion of the energy consumed in an ethanol plant is for the production of distillers grains, with production of dried distillers grains consuming much more than wet production.
A noticeable industry trend reflects reducing the Btus consumed per gallon as improved production practices and technology occur.
The efficiency gains are larger for the leaders, which represent the newer, more efficient plants.
Another trend is that developing ethanol plants are emphasizing energy efficiencies of production.
Likewise, ethanol biorefineries have also cut electricity usage.
The Christianson report shows a 13pc reduction in electricity consumption at the average ethanol facility.
Ethanol yield efficiency is measured by the gallons of ethanol that can be produced from a bushel of corn. Read more.
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