Biofuel Plants Convert Grain to Ethanol More Efficiently

URBANA, IL – Over the past ten years, ethanol producers have become increasingly more efficient in converting grain to ethanol.

According to Dr. Scott Irwin, University of Illinois ag economist there has been a clear upward trend moving from 2.8 gallons per bushel in 2014 to a peak of 3 gallons per bushel in mid-2019.

At the same time however, there is a clear downward trend in conversion rates of dried distillers grains (DDGS).

DDGS is a biproduct of the process, along with carbon dioxide (CO2), and is used within the livestock and dairy industries for high-protein feed.

In 2014, ethanol plants were producing just over 17 pounds of distillers grains per bushel of corn or sorghum.

By 2020, the output had fallen to 15.5 pounds per bushel of corn.

Irwin suggests that the response was rational as the demand for ethanol paired with increasing technology, allowed plants to improve conversion for fuel over the output for DDGS.

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(SOURCE: All Ag News)