There are a few good reasons why an ethanol plant is required and one of them is that there is strong demand for ethanol for oxygenating as well as to enhance octane. An ethanol plant will also enable a farmer to significantly take part in a major value added opportunity as well as to provide himself with a hedge against some of the commodity price risks that are coupled with growing corn. With higher demand for grain as well as better economic opportunities for rural folk and also to provide protection to the environment with lesser emissions of carbon monoxide, the ethanol plant may play a big role.
Known Since the Days of Henry Ford
Ethanol was known as a motor fuel back in the days of Henry Ford but since the beginning of the 1990s there has been a number of ethanol plants constructed in the mid western United States and it are believed that more than forty five plants have sprouted up with total capacity of about six billion liters. With rising oil prices and better scientific evidence that shows the ill effects of greenhouse gas emissions as well as more concerns with energy security, the ethanol industry has seen much expansion in recent times.
It is believed that the United States alone has one hundred ethanol plants in operation that together can output approximately 17 billion liters per year and there are more in the pipeline. A major advantage of operating an ethanol plant is that by blending ethanol in gasoline one can benefit the environment through better quality air as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions. There are many significant benefits to be derived through operating an ethanol plant and there is widespread agreement that the energy balance will improve due to better efficiencies of ethanol manufacturing as well as more efficiency and better yields in corn production. There are many countries worldwide that are producing as well as using ethanol in huge quantities and many also provide incentives for using and producing ethanol.
Brazil and Sweden produce ethanol in great numbers from their ethanol plants while in France; ethanol is made from grapes that do not quite have the required quality for use in wine production. The production of ethanol in ethanol plants in Sweden has effectively cut their crude oil consumption by as much as fifty percent since 1980. Even third world as well as developing countries across the globe finds use in operating ethanol plants and manufacturing ethanol is seen as an effective alternative to fossil fuels.