Grainnet

Technology Breakthrough Enables Biodiesel Production from Ethanol Plants

A new corn oil extraction technology is now available to the ethanol industry, thanks to a recently developed partnership between a group of ethanol producers and a technology firm.

Named SunSource BioEnergy, LLC, the team consists of VeraSun Energy, Glacial Lakes Energy, KAAPA Ethanol, Golden Grain Energy and Ethanol Oil Recovery Systems.

The technology enables ethanol producers to extract crude oil from the dry mill process.

By extracting the oil, producers have the opportunity to increase plant income and improve handling characteristics of distillers dry grains.

“This is exciting new technology.

"We believe this breakthrough will improve the economics of ethanol production by creating another product revenue stream,” explains Don Endres, CEO of VeraSun Energy.

SunSource BioEnergy hopes to extend the benefits industry-wide by offering producers extraction units and oil purchase agreements.

The company plans to build a 50 million gallon biodiesel production facility that will purify the corn oil and convert it to biodiesel fuel.

“We believe the oil separation technology is innovative and unique.

"After considerable research and development, we are pleased to contribute the technology to this industry partnership,” states David Cantrell, Chairman and founder of Ethanol Oil Recovery Systems.

If you would like more information on SunSource BioEnergy, the company will be describing its approach at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Kansas City on Thursday, June 30.

VeraSun Energy, a renewable energy company, is headquartered in Brookings, SD.

The company owns and operates a 120-million-gallon ethanol plant in Aurora, SD, and will complete construction of a 110-million-gallon plant in Fort Dodge, IA, later this year.

When completed, VeraSun will become the second largest ethanol producer in the country.

The company has taken a leadership role in the growing industry through its efforts to combine proven technology and production processes with an innovative and forward-thinking business approach.

Glacial Lakes Energy, LLC (GLE) is a 50+ million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Watertown, SD.

GLE is also a significant owner of Granite Falls Energy, LLC (GFE) located in Granite Falls, MN and currently serves as the management team of GFE.

Glacial Lakes Energy continues to prove to be successful in the industry by continually running above name plate capacity as well as providing economic impact to the agriculture industry, community, and its shareholders.

KAAPA Ethanol L.L.C. (KEL) currently operates the largest farmer-owned ethanol plant in Nebraska.

The company, located in Minden Nebraska, has announced plans to expand its current plant capacity to a level where annual production will exceed 90 million gallons of ethanol per year.

KEL’s participation in SunSource BioEnergy follows KAAPA’s commitment to optimize the value of every bushel of corn.

Golden Grain Energy, LLC is a leading producer of ethanol and distiller grain co-products. The company operates an ethanol production facility in Mason City, Iowa.

Golden Grain Energy, LLC is majority owned by local farmers and business persons.

The plant, constructed by Fagen and utilizing ICM processing technology, is one of the most efficient production facilities in the Midwest.

Golden Grain Energy, LLC focuses on adding value to the corn production of the area and enhancing the incomes of the investor partners while providing economic growth to the local area.

Ethanol Oil Recovery Systems LLC, a technology development company located in Clayton, Ga.

It recently completed commercialization of its patent pending whole stillage oil extraction technologies.

David Cantrell is Chairman and founder of Ethanol Oil Recovery Systems LLC.