Opinion: Put ethanol CO2 to work and take steps toward SAF
https://www.capco2.solutions/in-the-news
CO2 utilization delivers substantial returns to the entire agricultural ecosystem and the rural communities that support that agriculture.
- Jeff Bonar is CEO of CapCO2 Solutions.
- Joshua Manske sits on the Iowa and National Farmers Union boards of directors.
Published 29 Sept 2024, Credits to the Des Moines Register
Guest columnist Brian Frye had a thought-provoking take on the future of the ethanol industry in the Sept. 15 Register. We agree that Iowa farmers are not doomed if ethanol plants don’t transition to sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, markets.
Yet, smart utilization of the CO2 from ethanol plants and other industries can lower the carbon intensity of the ethanol produced — for the good of the environment and the good of the industry’s future while taking key steps toward SAF.
SAF and pipelines are two separate issues with ties to the ethanol industry. Both pipelines that facilitate sequestration and CO2 utilization enhance the ability to participate in SAF, but neither is required and it confuses the issues to lump them together — they have very different costs and implementation issues.”
It is important to note that Iowa’s corn farmers and ethanol producers participating in SAF do not require the proposed carbon pipelines. Common terminology is to refer to the pipeline as “sequestration” — something very different than “utilization,” where the carbon intensity benefits are realized while also utilizing the CO2 for new low-carbon products. Both sequestration and utilization cut the carbon intensity, but only utilization produces new revenues. Carbon capture and utilization should be preferentially considered for the golden opportunities it presents, particularly with the production of green methanol, which wasn’t mentioned by Frye.
There is a huge opportunity, particularly for CO2 that comes from biological sources like ethanol, manure treatment, and wastewater treatment plants. Those facilities can use their CO2 waste while also generating significant new revenues from climate-friendly products and making large strides in reducing their carbon impact.
For example, the company CapCO2 Solutions uses the CO2 on-site at ethanol plants to create green methanol while simultaneously lowering the carbon intensity of the ethanol produced. Green methanol is a perfect next-generation renewable fuel; it is low-carbon, burns clean, and, if spilled, dissipates harmlessly in a few minutes. Even existing diesel engines can be converted to green methanol at a low cost.
The crucial role for green methanol: If you take the waste CO2 from ethanol plants powered by renewable energy and use it to make green methanol, it makes the ethanol low-carbon too.
What is the market for green methanol? The shipping industry is working full steam ahead to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and use green methanol as fuel. In addition to fuel, methanol is a key building block in consumer products including plastics, insulation, cosmetics, and coatings. BMW estimates one ton of methanol is used in every automobile. If you want to make those products low-carbon, you start with green methanol.
CapCO2 Solutions is not the only company with a focus on green methanol. Many large chemical companies have similar green methanol technology — Mitsubishi and Haldor-Topsoe, for example. There are also other smaller startups building new technology to better address the ethanol opportunity, including CarbonSink, Methylenium, OCI, Advent, and BASF in partnership with Envision, for example. CapCO2 believes its is the best-suited to the ethanol industry, but it is only one of many approaches.
Farmers and ethanol plants alike must deal with the increasing requirements to generate low-carbon ethanol. These measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the corn and ethanol production are required for SAF, as well as bioplastics, bio-based chemicals, and demanding Fuel Standard jurisdictions in markets like California and Canada.