Study claims 30% efficiency gain by US ethanol plants

The energy needed to make a gallon of ethanol from corn in the US has reduce by an average of 30%, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In a study funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, researchers at the university’s Energy Resources Center surveyed 150 dry mill ethanol plants

The companies that supplied data for the study represented 66% of the 35 billion liters of ethanol distilled each year in the US, the University said.

The results suggested that new ethanol plants are using more efficient equipment, while older ones have undergone energy efficiency retrofits.

Steffen Mueller, principal research economist at the Center who carried out the research from November 2009 to January 2010, said the survey showed that adoption of new technologies reduces energy production needs.

“The challenge for policy makers will be to keep up with these developments so that regulations are meaningful and reflect state-of-the-art industry practices,” he said.

The survey found that ethanol plants use 28% less thermal energy – gas, coal, biomass or landfill gas – and 32% less electricity to turn corn into ethanol than they did 10 years ago.
Policy makers

The University said the research would prove useful for state and federal policy makers looking into the pros and cons of different fuels based on their carbon footprint.

“Policy makers rightfully pay attention to life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuels,” said Dr Mueller. “Biofuel refineries, including corn ethanol plants, are in a rapid innovation phase.”

The last comprehensive survey of ethanol plants was carried out in 2001, and since then there has been a near-10-fold increase in the number of US ethanol plants.

Ethanol industry lobby group Growth Energy said the efficiency gains were a “testament” to the industry-wide commitment to sustainable ethanol production.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said: “This study underscores what America’s ethanol supporters have known all along — today’s ethanol plants are cleaner and more efficient than ever and production processes are constantly improving with the adoption of new technologies.”

source: brighterenergy.org