This data-file tabulates the CO2 emissions from US ethanol plants, which produce around 1Mbpd of liquid fuels, giving an average CO2 intensity of ethanol of 85kg/boe.
In addition, we estimate 75kg/boe is emitted in producing corn, and around 2 boe of corn are needed to make 1 boe of ethanol.
Thus bio-ethanol has a total CO2 intensity of 240kg/boe (this is c40-50% less than conventional oil products, on a fully-loaded Scope 1-3 basis).
Our data are based on granular disclosures from 170 separate facilities, which have reported to the EPA FLIGHT tool and to the EIA.
Hence we can use the data to screen for the CO2 intensity of ethanol production state by state and company by company.
Covered companies, ranked by ethanol capacity, include Poet, Valero, Great Plains, Koch, Marathon and White Energy.
CO2 intensity below 60kg/boe can be considered as ‘lower carbon’ while CO2 intensity above 90kg/boe would be considered ‘higher carbon’.
The data-file also breaks down 170 different ethanol production facilities in the US, facility-by-facility. There is c300kbpd in Iowa, and over 100kbpd in boh Illinois and Iowa.
The industry-leading ethanol producer is highlighted and discussed in this article that was sent out to our distribution list.