Cellulose (agriculture waste) Will Far Surpass Corn Based Ethanol - 2/16/08

The University of Nebraska and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that cellulose feed stock can produce 540% more energy than the energy consumed to produce ethanol. Corn ethanol production has taken waves of criticism because it produces only 25% more energy than it takes to make ethanol. This finding makes using bio waste to make ethanol a very efficient renewable fuel.

A five year study of farmers in Nebraska and the Dakotas find by planting switchgrass 300 gallons of ethanol can be produced from one acre of switchgrass.

J.T. Cloud president of Gulf Ethanol states, the future of alternative fuels in America must be based upon non-food plant feedstock.

Market leaders in agriculture ethanol production include ADM, Cargill, and Bunge. As corn based ethanol plants prove to be inefficient it will become apparent using non-food biomass will be the answer to biofuel production for the future. Big Oil producers like Exxon and ConocoPhillips are also launching alternative fuel research programs.

Back To the Ethanol Index