Unfortunately, I have not seen much good-news in the news lately about ethanol...that is, until today. Apparently, some really smart science types at MSU have figured out a way to improve the production of ethanol by a factor of 20. No, that's not a typo. That's a factor of 20. Or 2,000%, if you prefer.

New Biofuel Process Dramatically Improves Energy Recovery

 

If those efficiencies will save us money without sacrificing quality, then bring it ONNNN!! Still paying 3.49 for E85 here in California.

 

I payed 3.11 the other day.

 

That is good news for sure Jim. Hopefully those 4 ladies in white coats can properly employ this MEC technology & make it useful in ethanol production

You guys above are concerned about price when our concern should be on the future of ethanol. It could quickly fade away if this Mid West drought continues or government help subsides

Joe

 

Hypothetically speaking...

Let's say ethanol production is increased by a factor of 20, and yet the price reduction is only by a 2:1 factor. So, instead of $3.15/gal, E85 only drops to $1.57/gal. Do you think that will still cause a dramatic shift in usage for every flex fuel car and truck out there?

 

thats not how corporate america works, they would charge the same and pocket the difference.

 

All of us on E85 maybe in for a serious supply issue in the coming months

Some of you may have heard, but the Midwest is suffering one the most serious droughts in decades (Wide spread crop damage occurring now). Harvest time is in the fall

I read where Valero & Nedak Ethanol have shut down or idled some of their ethanol plants

Be great if this new technology was employed ASAP

Joe

 

Ethanol <3

Shell is introducing sugar cane based ethanol fuel this upcoming year...looks good to me

 

Sounds like they're importing the fuel since sugar cane requires tropical weather and that would eliminate most of the USA from growing sugar cane.

 

The autoblog author didn't correctly interpret the MSU press release. Its not a factor of 20 improvement in ethanol conversion from the stocks, but rather, its a measure of the reduction in the amount of energy needed to convert the ethanol. The press release talks about recovering as much as 70% of the energy that goes into producing the ethanol. Its not clear how easily this energy can be used. It seems that up to 40% energy recovery is possible when the MEC cells are setup to make electricity, and then 73% is possible when setting up the cells to make hydrogen. Sounds great, but how easy is it to use this energy? May take a while to get that part figured out, but its definitely a step in the right direct because it suggests that this method could be used to cut the the energy required to make ethanol in half. There is still the cost of feed stock and transportation though...

 

Lack of demand makes it unfeasible to turn a profit with ethanol right now. Low demand = low price, low price isn't enough to offset the rising cost of inputs (corn, etc.). Just about every ethanol producer in the US has at least slowed production rates.
Importing from Brazil.