Run of the mill production
2nd May, 2008
Although second generation production methods are expected to revolutionise the biofuels industry, for now traditional methods still hold first placeGlobal demand for biofuels could reach 100 million tonnes in 2011, according to Clevelandbased industry research firm The Freedonia Group. On a regional basis, growth will be driven by a rapid expansion of the bioethanol market in the US, with the Asia Pacific region and western Europe experiencing greater growth. By 2011, second generation ethanol may well be a viable option, but until then ethanol producers must make their existing processes as efficient as possible to help meet demand.
As biofuels production soars, so will unpredictable feedstock prices. Key grain prices were up 40% to 130% in 2007, and prices of staple crops such as wheat, barley, rye and maize have jumped 80% since 2005. Many companies have closed plants due to expensive feedstocks, so the pressure is on for ethanol producers to use the most energyfriendly and economically sound technologies.
There are two main distinctions when producing first generation ethanol using crops such as wheat, corn and sugarcane: dry or wet milling. The dry mill ethanol process is the most popular method in Europe and the US, with companies such as VeraSun and Poet among the largest dry-mill ethanol producers in the US. Dry milling is the most simple and direct way of manufacturing ethanol.
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