Corn-ethanol is the world’s lowest cost liquid transportation fuel.

China imports U.S. ethanol, and so do other oil producing countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia. The United States will export 1 billion gallons of ethanol to foreign countries, primarily driven by the fact that ethanol is the cheapest octane molecule on the planet.

One comparison between sugarcane ethanol and corn-based ethanol we often hear is how Brazilian sugarcane is more efficient and has higher yield per hectare. This assessment is always misconstrued and inaccurate.

Typical comparisons incorrectly calculate average corn yield per acre of total land in the U.S.  to determine efficiency. As Alabama, Georgia, and other peripheral states do not yields as much corn as the U.S. Midwest, they have limited corn crops, thus should not be factored in the calculation.

If you solely compute yield per acre in the “corn belt”, typically American ethanol produced per acre or hectare greatly surpasses Brazil.

Another factor not properly considered in the ethanol discussion is octane. Corn ethanol is roughly 115 octane, which compares favorably to the nasty big oil components of reformate, benzene, toluene, and the such.

As Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards ramp up, and consumer desires for greater horsepower from smaller engines continue to grow, the only way to meet expectations is to increase gasoline octane values.

This suggests that within our lifetime we will probably see the average motor gasoline octane increase from 87, to 91 and beyond as we design smaller engines. This strengthens the need for high octane ethanol.

Lastly, let’s debunk the greatest misconception out there. Ethanol is not starving the world!

On the contrary, mill ethanol production produces food because the process uses only the starch portion of the corn, which is about 70% of the kernel.

All the remaining nutrients – protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins – are concentrated into distillers grain, which is turned into a valuable feed for livestock (i.e. food). One corn bushel is 56 pounds and will produce at least 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of distillers grain.

Ethanol produces food despite the media’s false divergent hype!

Ethanol is the cheapest Octane Molecule on Planet Earth, which plays very well for corn-based ethanol in the future. Ethanol is a green fuel that is underutilized and not well understood by our Governments.

As we increase awareness of the general public, society should increasingly find value in the benefits of corn-based ethanol.

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