Grainnet

by Myke Feinman, BioFuels Journal Editor

Winnebago, MN—At the beginning of March, the Corn Plus Cooperative ethanol plant, Winnebago, MN, started operating two wind turbine towers to generate electricity for the plant.

General Manager Keith Kor said the 44-million-gallon-per-year (MMGY) plant utilizes 6.5 megawatts of electricity per hour, and the two new turbines, located on the plant’s property, will generate 4.2 megawatts per hour when operating.

Kor noted Corn Plus owns 1 percent of the towers, and after 10 years, will purchase the towers from John Deere Wind Energy, Johnston, IA.

Meanwhile, the plant, according to Kor, has locked in its electricity price from John Deere Wind Energy for 20 years.

Reducing Energy Costs

Kor anticipates the wind towers will reduce the plant’s electricity costs by about 40%.

He said two to three months of data will be needed to determine exactly how much of a savings the wind towers provide.

Meanwhile, a system the plant installed in 2007 to combust the syrup produced in the ethanol process is already cutting the plant’s natural gas usage by about 50%.

According to Kor, the syrup is burned to generate steam needed for the ethanol production process.

Even before potential wind turbine savings, Kor estimates the plant uses 18,000 BTUs per gallon of ethanol produced, much lower than the industry average of 32,000 BTUs per gallon.

Reducing natural gas costs has also provided Corn Plus with $240,000 (63,000 tons) worth of carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).

Kor said he intends to apply for more carbon credits based on the wind tower energy use reduction.

For more information, call 507-893-4747.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Corn Plus

more GRAIN NEWS...