EPA says ethanol plants can create negative carbon footprint if using CHP system

The EPA said in a new report that ethanol plants that use natural gas CHP (combined heat and power) systems can create net negative carbon emissions.

Recently, Carbon Green said it expects to significantly increase carbon credit grants for US ethanol plants, following the first grant of credits to the 44 Mgy Corn Plus facility in Minnesota. Carbon Green execs said that ethanol significantly reduces the 21 pounds of carbon released per gallon of gasoline, and that this reduction will eventually be eligible for credits.

In addition, the company said that US biofuels plants will be able to earn and trade carbon credits for the reduction of fossil fuel emissions during their production process. The Corn Plus plant in Minnesota burns corn syrup to offset fossil fuel use, and uses two wind turbines for electricity.

England has been a proponent of CHP systems, which are a cornerstone of its effort to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. The NaREC Clothier Laboratory B100-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) plant recently begun operation  in England. The 9.9 kW pilot plant uses biodiesel made from waste vegetable-oil.

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