Fluid Quip Installs New System at CVEC Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT) announces the installation of its Distillers Corn Oil (DCO) Technology™ at the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) plant in Benson, Minnesota.

FQT’s DCO Technology™ enhances the mechanical separation of distillers’ corn oil from whole stillage, directing it into the thin stillage stream and clarifying the stream to reduce fine solids before reaching the evaporation and oil recovery systems. This process not only increases corn oil yields but also improves the efficiency of evaporators, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced operational costs.

“We are eager to see the substantial benefits of FQT’s DCO Technology in action,” said CVEC General Manager Chad Friese. “At CVEC, our goal is to remain at the forefront of industry innovations, and this technology is a crucial part of that mission.”

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Production, technology

Lallemand Acquires BASF Bioenergy Enzymes Business

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF has sold its San Diego-based bioenergy enzymes business, including the Spartec® product portfolio and technologies in development, to Lallemand subsidiaries, Danstar Ferment AG and Lallemand Specialties Inc. Lallemand will integrate the business and associated employees in its Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) business unit.

LBDS has partnered with BASF’s bioenergy business since 2017, jointly developing the expression of gluco and alpha amylase enzymes in bioengineered yeast, now widely used in the North American ethanol production market.

“We see the capabilities of BASF’s bioenergy team and its Spartec® products and pipeline technologies as highly complementary with ours,” said Angus Ballard, President and General Manager of LBDS. “By combining resources and R&D programs, we will be even better placed to meet our global customers’ requirements.”

LBDS will present its expanded portfolio at the Fuel and Ethanol Workshop (FEW) next week in Minneapolis.

BASF, bioenergy, biofuels, enzymes, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Exports Set Records and Celebrate Anniversary

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. exports and total usage of ethanol hit record highs last week, just as the Energy Information Administration marked the first anniversary of including ethanol export estimates in its Weekly Petroleum Status Report.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was instrumental in getting EIA to include the additional data, according to RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman. “Prior to May 2023, EIA’s flagship weekly fuels report gave an incomplete picture of ethanol supply and demand, and market participants had to wait for monthly Census Bureau releases to get reliable export data,” Richman wrote in a blog post.

Ethanol exports were 62.3 million gallons last week. Not only was this the highest level since EIA began reporting estimates last year, but it also exceeded the maximum weekly pace implied by monthly Census export data prior to that.

Additionally, U.S. refiner and blender net inputs of ethanol, a measure of ethanol usage that accounts for approximately 97% of EIA’s final consumption estimate, were 275.5 million gallons. For the second straight week, net inputs were at their highest level since the week leading up to Independence Day 2021.

On an annualized basis, the combined pace of exports and domestic usage was 17.7 billion gallons – by far a record. The previous high-water mark, set in December, was 16.8 billion gallons.

Read more from RFA.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit Guidance Issued

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance Friday for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The guidance divides transportation fuel into two broad categories – sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and non-SAF transportation fuel and notes that a taxpayer must have a signed registration letter from the IRS “dated on or before January 1, 2025, for the taxpayer to be eligible to claim the §45Z credit for production starting January 1, 2025.”

The lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel are to be determined under the guidance in accordance with: (I) the most recent Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States, or (II) any similar methodology which satisfies the criteria under § 211(o)(1)(H) of the CAA, as in effect on August 16, 2022.

The guidance provides definitions for various terms related to non-SAF fuels including Low-GHG ethanol.
The term “low-GHG ethanol” means ethyl alcohol that is a liquid fuel that meets the specifications of ASTM International D4806 for denatured fuel ethanol for blending with gasolines and that has an emissions rate that is not greater than 50 kg of CO 2e per mmBTU.

An appendix provides a table of feedstocks used to “make fuels that may be eligible for the §45Z Credit,” under categories including agricultural residue, biomass energy crops, CO2, ethanol, oilseeds, starch and sugar crops, and woody biomass.

aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, SAF

House Farm Bill Includes SAF Provisions

Cindy Zimmerman

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 that advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee last week includes provisions for Sustainable Aviation Fuel under the Energy Title (IX).

The title “(a)ffirms sustainable aviation fuel as an advanced biofuel” as seen in H.R.6271 – Farm to Fly Act of 2023.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition Executive Director Alison Graab called the provision “a good first step in the further advancement of SAF” since it will make SAF eligible for USDA programs and help develop new markets for crop and agricultural waste feedstocks. “Although more work remains, the provisions of the bill affirming SAF as an advanced biofuel and providing for greater USDA collaboration regarding SAF underscore the significant role of SAF — not just in providing a clean and reliable jet fuel — but in also supporting rural economic development, creating a new market and economic opportunities for farmers, and ensuring American energy security,” said Graab.

The legislation also reauthorizes the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and maintains investments in the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill, SAF

Verbio Begins Work on Indiana Biorefinery

Cindy Zimmerman

Verbio has begun construction to convert its South Bend ethanol plant into the second integrated biorefinery plant in North America.

The facility will incorporate both the production of renewable natural gas (RNG) and bioethanol using an innovative production approach. The company, a subsidiary of Europe`s leading biofuels and bioenergy producer Verbio SE, had received approval for its expansion proposal from the City of South Bend in April. Following the application of the Verbio technology and commissioning, Verbio targets a production capacity of at least 85 million gallons of corn ethanol and 2.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of RNG annually.

Verbio CEO Claus Sauter says the RNG will be created using the corn stillage co-product coming from the ethanol production process. “The technology approach we are applying integrates bioethanol and RNG production in a unique way,” said Sauter. “We are working with a closed-loop system that uses all raw materials sustainably and most efficiently. Almost 100% of all accumulated waste products are being refined in further steps into high-quality fertilizer products that are then sold back to growers.”

South Bend Ethanol is the second biorefinery project of Verbio in the United States. The company`s first RNG plant in Nevada, Iowa, has been producing RNG from corn stover since 2021. The build out in South Bend coincides with the expected commissioning of ethanol production at the Nevada plant in the coming weeks. Stillage from the ethanol production will be used to produce additional RNG, similar to the expansion of South Bend.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ICM and Western New York Energy to Implement FOT Oil Recovery™ system

Cindy Zimmerman

ICM, Inc. this week announced a strategic collaboration with Western New York Energy to implement ICM’s cutting-edge FOT Oil Recovery™ system.

Under the terms of the agreement, ICM will be responsible for engineering, equipment procurement, and installation of its proprietary FOT Oil Recovery™ system at WNYE’s advanced facility in Medina, New York. This agreement marks the sixth commercial installation of ICM’s proprietary oil recovery technology.

FOT Oil Recovery™, a two-step separation system integrated after the distillation process, significantly increases downstream oil recovery by optimizing solids-liquid separation in the whole stillage. This system also dewaters the whole stillage cake as it goes to the dyer, reducing a plant’s natural gas load.

The on-site installation of FOT Oil Recovery™ will start this fall, with a system startup planned for next spring.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Facilities, Production

Chandra Joins Grains Council Ethanol Efforts

Cindy Zimmerman

Ankit Chandra, US Grains Council

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) announces the addition of Ankit Chandra as new senior manager of global ethanol market development.

In this role, Chandra will contribute to planning and implementing promotional programs and market analysis to advance U.S. ethanol exports across transportation and off-road applications, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), maritime and other bio-based sectors.

Chandra joins the Council with vast experience in agricultural trade, previously holding positions as an Agricultural Specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service and other major agricultural organizations. Chandra recently earned a master’s degree in public administration with a specialization in agriculture, energy and the environment from Columbia University.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, USGC

Ethanol Report on Days of Summer

Cindy Zimmerman

When it’s summertime, the driving is easier with ethanol.

As millions of Americans are looking ahead to summer vacations and family road trips, high fuel prices may be a concern, but ethanol is helping to keep prices lower than they might be otherwise, and the Renewable Fuels Association notes that higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85 offer even lower prices, and the chance for motorists to win $300 in fuel every week this summer.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report, RFA chief economist Scott Richman, and Senior VP, Industry Relations & Market Development, Robert White talk about the benefits of ethanol blended fuel and RFA’s annual Ethanol Days of Summer Contest.

Ethanol Report 5-23-24 15:38

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

ACE Announces “Gold Standard” Conference Theme

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is setting “The Gold Standard” as the theme for its 37th annual conference, August 14-16, at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District.

“ACE is devoting considerable time, effort and resources to help ethanol producers and the farmers supplying them become the gold standard when it comes to producing low-carbon fuel,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “We invite ethanol producers and industry members to join us in Omaha this summer to discover how they can benefit from the work ACE is undertaking to enhance the value and demand for ethanol.”

“For nearly four decades, biofuel stakeholders have used the ACE conference as a platform to discuss the latest technological advancements and market updates, as well as the industry’s future direction and ambitions,” said Katie Muckenhirn, Vice President of Public Affairs at ACE. “Our industry is setting the benchmark for sustainable energy solutions, and we’re crafting an event agenda that covers topics designed to shape the continued success of this industry.”

Registration is now officially open for the conference which will cover topics like maximizing tax credit opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act, the retail marketplace for E15 and E85, farm-to-biofuel carbon market collaborations, trade developments and more. The conference also offers breakout sessions with subjects falling under three different tracks: leadership and management, technology and carbon.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News