September 10, 2010
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Ethanol

Technology Name And Capacity Range

Ethanol at the Farm
Range of Capacity: 10 million l/y to 4 billion l/y

Introduced to the Market

1980’s

Maturity

The technology based on Sugars and Starch to Ethanol is Commercial
The Cellulose to Ethanol technology including the thermochemical processes are at the demonstration stage.

Energy Type

Liquid Fuels used in blends with gasoline

Example / Application
  • The smaller plants are usually based on waste sugar streams from other plants such as food processing, etc
  • Larger plants are optimized to recover co-products such as oils, proteins, and other and use the starches or sugars partly or wholly for ethanol production
Benefits

The principle benefits of alcohol production are the additional potential markets for the farm produce. If properly planned and executed, ethanol production facilities can add diversity to farm incomes. At the same time, they contribute to the national economy through the production of sustainable liquid fuels.

Cost Ranges – Installed and Energy

Capital costs vary significantly depending on capacity and the primary feedstock. The normal economies of scale usually apply, with the end result that the larger plants are significantly more economic than the smaller ones. Medium size plants based on Sugar and starch are estimated to cost in the range of $1.5-$2millions/million litres annual capacity. Cellulose based plants would cost significantly more – as much as 3-5 times more

Skills / Training for Design and Installation

Alcohol production facilities use complex chemical engineering processes and it is advisable to seek advice from reputable and experienced engineering firms. In addition, there are many government regulations that must be met before undertaking such investments.

Operation & Maintenance Requirements

There is a need for technical expertise in order to operate and monitor such facilities. Depending on the primary feedstock there is a need to purchase additional inputs such as enzymes, and chemicals. .

Resource Assessment - Sources / Accuracy

In order to assess the potential viability of an ethanol plant, it is necessary to assess the resource base. It is important to assess the nature of the feedstock, the potential yields and the existence of similar facilities operating in Canada or the United States and technical maturity of the technology under consideration. Economics of scale play a very important role, and it is therefore necessary to consider the availability of the intended feedstock within a range of 100km over the life cycle of the plant.

Estimated ethanol yields of different feedstocks: (Source: Nature , ref.5 below)
- Sugar cane: 5 300 6 500 l/hectare
- Corn: 3 100-3 900 l/hectare

Issues and Limitations
  • Changing demand for agricultural commodities can have a significant impact on the plant viability;
  • The viability of ethanol plants is dependent on the continuous existence of government incentives for the blending of such fuels in gasoline;
  • Matching cost effective technology with sufficient resource availability;
  • Environmental, regulatory, and other approvals can be time consuming and costly.
Life Expectancy

25 years +

Links
Comments - Recommendations

Take your time to investigate and plan the potential option. There are many technical and non-technical questions that need to be addressed before investing too much money in equipment and professionals.


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Created: 03-31-2008
Modified: 03-31-2008