USDA Report Shows Improvements in Ethanol Energy Efficiency

USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses has issued a new report that surveyed corn growers for the year 2005 and ethanol plants for the year 2008, which indicates the net energy gain from converting corn to ethanol is growing and that ethanol production is becoming more efficient.

USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses has issued a new report that surveyed corn growers for the year 2005 and ethanol plants for the year 2008, which indicates the net energy gain from converting corn to ethanol is growing and that ethanol production is becoming more efficient. 

The survey asked ethanol producers to respond to questions about ethanol yield per bushel of corn and energy used in the plants. The 2008 updates presented in the report recorded the effects of current practices used by corn producers and ethanol processors.

The report measures all conventional fossil fuel energy used in the production of 1 gallon of corn ethanol and concluded that for every British thermal unit ( BTU ) unit of energy required to make ethanol, 2.3 BTUs of energy are produced. 

The ratio is somewhat higher for some firms that are partially substituting biomass energy in processing. Since the last study in 2004, the net energy balance of corn ethanol has increased from 1.76 BTUs to the 2.3 BTUs of energy reported for 2008.

Among other things, the study cites better corn seeds, fertilizer use, and sources to power ethanol plants for the energy gain.

Ethanol yields have increased by about 10 percent in the last 20 years, so proportionately less corn is required, according to the USDA report. In addition to refinements in ethanol technology, corn yields have increased by 39 percent over the last 20 years, requiring less land to produce ethanol.

The report can be found on the Web at this site.

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