Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
08:52
Method to Produce Durable Pellets at Lower Energy Consumption Using High Moisture Corn Stover and a Corn Starch Binder in a Flat Die Pellet Mill
Published on: June 15, 2016
Effect of corn stover compositional variability on minimum ethanol selling price (MESP)
Ling Tao1, David W Templeton, David Humbird
1National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA. ling.tao@nrel.gov
Bioresource Technology
|May 28, 2013
Summary
This study analyzed how different biomass feedstock compositions affect ethanol production economics. The minimum ethanol selling price was found to be $2.20 per gallon, considering various techno-economic factors.
Area of Science:
- Biochemical Engineering
- Renewable Energy Economics
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Biochemical conversion of biomass is a key pathway for renewable fuel production.
- Feedstock composition variability significantly impacts process efficiency and economics.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for optimizing bioethanol production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a techno-economic sensitivity analysis on biochemical conversion of biomass to ethanol.
- To evaluate the impact of varying feedstock compositions on key economic and production metrics.
- To determine the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) based on diverse feedstock inputs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2011 biochemical conversion design model.
- Incorporated 496 near infrared (NIR) feedstock compositions from 47 locations across eight US Corn Belt states.
- Calculated MESP, ethanol yield, annual production, and total installed project cost for each feedstock composition.
Main Results:
- The average MESP was calculated to be $2.20 ± 0.21 per gallon of ethanol.
- Ethanol yield and annual production varied based on feedstock composition.
- Total installed project costs were sensitive to feedstock characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Feedstock composition is a critical factor influencing the economic viability of bioethanol production.
- The techno-economic model provides valuable insights for optimizing feedstock selection and process design.
- The determined MESP offers a benchmark for the economic feasibility of bioethanol from the studied feedstocks.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
02:18Conformations of Ethane and Propane
In an organic molecule, free rotation about the carbon-carbon single bond results in energetically different conformers of the molecule. Due to this rotation, called the internal rotation, ethane has two major conformations — staggered and eclipsed.
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered ethane, the...
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered ethane, the...