« Ethanol Makers Reject Blame For Food Prices | Home | US Ethanol Sector Pushes Automakers For Support »
Forage Based Ethanol Offers Promise For Fuel
By Mr Ethanol | November 26, 2008
Southwest Farm Press:
Forage-based ethanol production will not solve all of the nation’s energy woes, but it’s a good place to start.
“Forage ethanol is not the only answer to our energy needs, but it is a big answer,” says Carol Jones, stored product engineer at Oklahoma State University.
Jones discussed the dual challenges of storage and transportation for forages used in ethanol production at a biofuels field day at the South Central Research Station in Chickasha.
“We have a lot of work to do and it will take a lot of money,” Jones said. She said current preference for corn and other grain-based ethanol is partly due to ease of transportation. “Grain is easy to store and the delivery process is already in place.”
Forages have a bit more gearing up to do. “We’ve found that square bales are easier to store and transport than round ones.” But moving heavy bales from one processing site to the next adds to expense. “If we’re only using part of the bale, why haul all of it? We’re working on possibilities.”
Biomass farmers need a system that allows them to reduce transportation costs and time. “Moving from one processing site to another processing location and then to another is just not feasible,” she said. “We need a process where we can handle it once.”
Grinding dry forage plants and packing into a module, similar to a cotton module, may offer promise. “We’re working with Texas A&M on a closed environment module.”
“We’re not certain yet what the first step in breaking down cellulose will be.” Gasification may be an option. “We’re looking at the economics.” She said enzymatic processing may be cheaper for now since the equipment is already in place. “As more gasification equipment is built, cost will come down.”
Jones said converting forages to ethanol is more efficient than converting corn.
Topics: Biofuel, Ethanol, Trends |
Related Posts
- In Search Of A Cleaner Ethanol
- Do We Buy Ethanol (In Minnesota) Because We Have To?
- Ethanol’s Unfair Advantage
- Methanol Shows Increasing Promise As An Alternative Fuel
- USDA Officials Continue To Look To Cellulosic Ethanol
- Study Finds Certain Ethanol Blends Can Provide Better Fuel Economy Than Gasoline
- State Offers Grants To Expand Sale Of Ethanol Fuel
- UN Suggests Removal Of Tariffs On Brazilian Ethanol
- Gone Fishing!
- Modern Ethanol Industry Has Superior Environmental And Economic Profile Versus Gasoline
New Way Of Making Easy Money Online