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Whey to Ethanol: A Biofuel Role for Dairy Cooperatives?

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  • Ling, K. Charles

Abstract

Pertinent information regarding whey-to-fuel ethanol production is explored and reviewed. A potential of producing up to 203 million gallons of fuel ethanol from whey in 2006 was estimated, and dairy cooperatives could have a share of 65 million gallons. Two whey-ethanol plants are currently operated by dairy cooperatives, producing a total of 8 million gallons a year. Successful operations of the plants since the 1980s indicate that (1) fuel ethanol production from whey is technically feasible, (2) whey-tofuel ethanol production technologies and processes are mature and capable of being adopted for commercial operations, and (3) producing fuel ethanol from whey is economically feasible. However, in this era of whey products' price uncertainties, a key consideration in assessing the feasibility of a new whey-ethanol venture should be the valuation of the opportunity cost of whey as feedstock for fermentation. A new wheyethanol plant probably should have an annual production capacity of at least 5 million gallons of ethanol. Some historical lessons on the pitfalls to avoid are summarized.

Suggested Citation

  • Ling, K. Charles, 2008. "Whey to Ethanol: A Biofuel Role for Dairy Cooperatives?," Research Reports 280102, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:urdbrr:280102
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.280102
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    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/280102/files/RR214.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ling, K. Charles, 2004. "Marketing Operations of Dairy Cooperatives, 2002," Research Reports 280089, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aspasia A. Chatzipaschali & Anastassios G. Stamatis, 2012. "Biotechnological Utilization with a Focus on Anaerobic Treatment of Cheese Whey: Current Status and Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-34, September.
    2. Gupta, Anubhuti & Verma, Jay Prakash, 2015. "Sustainable bio-ethanol production from agro-residues: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 550-567.
    3. Ling, K. Charles, 2011. "Cooperative Theory, Practice, and Financing: A Dairy Cooperative Case Study," Research Reports 280109, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.
    4. Csilla Farkas & Judit M. Rezessy-Szabó & Vijai Kumar Gupta & Erika Bujna & Tuan M. Pham & Klára Pásztor-Huszár & László Friedrich & Rajeev Bhat & Vijay Kumar Thakur & Quang D. Nguyen, 2019. "Batch and Fed-Batch Ethanol Fermentation of Cheese-Whey Powder with Mixed Cultures of Different Yeasts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-12, November.

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