DDGS more valuable for fuel than animal feed
Date of publication : 10/11/2007
Source : All About Feed
When looking at the energy balance in ethanol production it is more effective to use its co-product DDGS as a fuel source than to sell it for animal feed, concludes Nicholas Zeman in the latest issue of Ethanol Producer magazine.
Biofuel isn't valuable unless it contains more energy than it takes to produce. Ethanol critics have long accused the renewable fuel of being a net-energy loser.
However, studies show that distillers’ grains contribute to the fuel's positive energy balance.
The long-term upward trend in natural gas prices makes many other forms of power competitive. For ethanol producers it may be more efficient to burn distillers’ grains than to cultivate a group of buyers.
Ethanol producers don't have to transport the product if they use it as an on-site biomass power source, and some companies already tout equipment that can convert stillage (grains and liquid effluent remaining after distillation) into methane.
NewBio E Systems Inc in Minnesota makes a strong case for ethanol plants to convert thin stillage to methane and use the biogas to power the processing and distillation needs of the facility.
According to NewBio processing thin stillage into distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) consumes energy, while processing thin stillage into methane produces energy.
Energy or feed product?
While the energy markets are making it more appealing to consider distillers grains as a power source, the ethanol co-product is still making its mark in the animal feed market.
If a trend surfaces among refineries to burn distillers’ grains, however, there is concern that the ethanol industry could further squeeze the corn market and put more pressure on livestock producers.
Ultimately, economics will be the deciding factor in whether ethanol producers seek the feed or energy market for distillers’ grains.
Re: News: DDGS more valuable for fuel than animal feed
10/12/2007 |
It seems that livestock production will face more problems in near future when DDGS used in methane production, thus animal protein production and feeding the hunger will be in troubles, we should seek the alternatives.
Prof. Dr. Youssef Attia
Egypt
Would you like to discuss about this topic: DDGS more valuable for fuel than animal feed?
To say in this discussion we need to be part of the community of Engormix
The opinion has been published successfully
Share it with your colleagues and friends!
Send to a friend
You are sending the news:
DDGS more valuable for fuel than animal feed
From: (Enter your e-mail address)
To:
To send to more than one address, use semicolons between one and another.
To qualify an opinion is necessary to be part of the community of Engormix.com
You need to validate your e-mail address to participate in forums
You have registered with the email:
To gain access to all the services of Engormix.com, please login to your mailbox and validate your account.