What is ethanol?

Ethanol has been used since prehistory, most often as an alcohol-based beverage. Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, it can be made from biomass such as grain, corn, sugar, or starchy vegetables like potatoes.

Ethanol is made by converting the carbohydrate (starch) portion of biomass into sugar, which is then converted to ethanol in a fermentation process similar to brewing beer. Pure ethanol was first promoted as a transportation fuel by Henry Ford for his Model T automobile, but at the time, conventional gasoline was the less expensive fuel.

Performance advantages of using Ethanol

• Ethanol can reduce pre-ignition, which under severe conditions may result in serious damage, especially to high performance engines. You can tell if your engine has pre-ignition problems if you hear "knocking" or "pinging" noises when you're accelerating hard or climbing a hill.
• It has natural detergent properties that help to keep fuel tanks and systems clean of contaminants.
• It's a natural gas line antifreeze in winter.

Emissions reduction

• Ethanol can increase combustion efficiency and reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
• Using ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Production energy efficiency

• One of the most efficient ethanol facilities in North America, our Lloydminster facility will utilize waste heat and steam from the nearby Husky heavy oil upgrader site in the manufacturing process.
• The recycled waste heat and steam reduces the use of natural gas by approximately 40%.
• Our new Minnedosa plant is powered by clean-burning natural gas, with the bulk of its electricity coming from hydropower - another renewable source.

Rural development

• short-term employment during the construction phase
• long-term employment for plant employees
• purchase of grain from local producers
• production of DDGS, helping further develop the livestock feed industry
• purchase of local goods and services