Make Hay: 3 potential marketing scenarios for CO2 in biofuels production

The long term sustainability of first generation ethanol facilities, through advanced biofuels plants, is realized by making money from all the by-products; and of course, CO2 is one of the leading components of this by-product list. There are many variables associated the feasibility of adding a carbon dioxide plant to a biofuels facility. There are over 40 CO2 plants in North America which source from ethanol; out of a total number nearly 200 ethanol plants, in 24 states. These CO2 plants primarily source the merchant market; that being the food, beverage and industrial markets. There are a few exceptions, such as EOR (enhanced oil recovery) destinations with the CO2; however, these are specific to the region and oil recovery economics. The CO2 industry is highly resilient, and has always been highly tied to the food and beverage industries, for primarily food processing of principally meat products, from poultry, to fish, to beef, pork, and frozen specialties…