Global ethanol industry convenes in Indianapolis for 35th Annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop
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The Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) is not only the largest ethanol conference in the world, but provides an opportunity for the entire industry to come together and discuss the newest technologies and innovative ideas in a dynamic business-to-business environment.
Now in its 35th year, FEW is the longest running ethanol conference, hosted by Ethanol Producer Magazine. Hosted by Ethanol Producer Magazine, FEW was June 10-12 in Indianapolis, IN this year.
The mission of FEW is to deliver timely presentations with a strong focus on commercial-scale ethanol production, from quality control and yield maximization to regulatory compliance and fiscal management. The conference is also the prime place for the industry to unveil new technologies and research findings.
There are five different sector tracks offered, but attendees can pick and choose which sessions they attend. This year, the tracks were as follows:
- Track 1: Production & Operations
- Track 2: Leadership & Financial Management
- Track 3: Co-Products & Product Diversification
- Track 4: Infrastructure and Market Development
- Track 5: Advanced Biofuels Conference
FEW offers technical presentations by more than 150 industry experts and also features an expo complete with industry-recognized exhibitors offering the most cutting-edge technologies and products.
This year, the NCERC not only attended the conference, but presented on two different occasions. NCERC Executive Director John Caupert presented "Step-by-Step: Tracing the Ethanol Production Process from Corn Receiving to Final Product Load-out" at
Ethanol 101
, FEW's pre-conference, hosted the day before it officially begins. Ethanol 101 is the perfect opportunity for first time attendees and those new to the industry to learn about ethanol basics. During Caupert's presentation, two ethanol process demonstrations were raffled off to Ethanol 101 participants.
NCERC Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang also presented during FEW. Zhang
participated in the Track 1 forum: Distilling Available Laboratory Data to Improve Production Decision Making Processes.
"FEW is the go to conference, year in and year out for NCERC. FEW provides opportunities to network with clients of the past, but also provides a venue of introduction to clients of the future. There is no conference that matches the unlimited networking opportunities that can be obtained at FEW," said NCERC Executive Director John Caupert.
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Feedstock Diversity Showcase showing sprouts
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The NCERC's Feedstock Diversity Showcase is finally showing sprouts. For the second consecutive year, with the help of student members of From the Ground Up SIUE, the NCERC planted corn, sweet sorghum and grain sorghum (milo) as part of an agricultural exhibit in front of the NCERC building.
From the Ground Up is a student organization at SIUE de
dicated to further understanding the bioeconomic, agricultural, food and beverage, and fermentation industries through community involvement projects.
"From the Ground Up is very excited to be able to tend to the Feedstock Diversity Showcase for a second year," President Shea Walker said. "We hope that the showcase can help educate and start conversations on biofuels and agriculture."
The NCERC chose to raise corn, sweet sorghum and milo as they represent the conventional feedstocks for the production of biofuels, advanced biofuels and cellulosic biofuels.
Like many farmers this growing season, NCERC has been overcoming challenges with its Showcase as well. An unusually wet spring delayed planting until the end of May, and one feedstock requires a re-plant.
NCERC Grants & Contracts Associate Ida Hand led the project last year and has again spearheaded the initiative in 2019.
"The Feedstock Diversity Showcase is a great representation of the challenges farmers are facing this growing season. We have to re-plant our grain sorghum this year due to wet weather, but I am glad we have the opportunity to show From the Ground Up members what real-life factors farmers face every day," said Hand.
The purpose of the NCERC's Showcase is to be a teaching tool used to educate consumers on the benefits of the agriculture industry.
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NCERC Points of Pride - FY19
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As we wrap up Fiscal Year 19 here at the NCERC, we wanted to share some of our greatest achievements throughout the year. Here are NCERC's "Points of Pride" for Fiscal Year 19.
Contractual Client Research
- Generation 1.5 Biofuels: NCERC conducted four contractual research projects on Generation 1.5 biofuels, paving the way for commercial adoption of these technologies in FY20
- Bioproducts: NCERC continues to be the "Go-To Resource" for pilot scale research of biorenewable bioproducts
- Production Contract: For the first time in the 15 year history of NCERC, a commercial production contract of a biopolymer was conducted in our pilot plant. The biopolymer is a direct 1 to 1 replacement for petroleum based biopolymers, resulting in a cleaner, greener environment
- Sustainability: By working with Illinois EPA, the NCERC successfully applied for and was awarded a "Land Application Permit" for liquid waste products. This effort was highlighted at the President/CEO/Board level of DuPont, a global, multi-national company
Sponsored Projects
- Aquaculture: Feeding Ethanol Co-Products (DDGS) to tilapia - a collaboration with SIUC Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, opening new markets for co-product utilization in the aquaculture industry
- Risk Factors: Screen for risk factors in Ethanol Coproducts (DDGS) - a collaboration with the SIUE Department of Chemistry
- Technology Review: A review paper on the state-of-the-art corn kernel fiber technology, "Conversion of Corn-Kernel Fiber in Conventional Fuel-Ethanol Plants"
Collaborative Research
- Innovation: Application with SIU OTT on NCERC's Starch Methods
- EPA: NCERC provided sound, scientific data for US EPA to come up with the document " Guidance on Qualifying an Analytical Method for Determining the Cellulosic Converted Fraction of Corn Kernel Fiber Co-Processed with Starch" for the US Corn to Ethanol Industry
- NIST: Assisted the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with starch reference material making for the corn to ethanol industry
- Department of Energy (DOE): Assisted DOE BioEnergy Technology Office to come up with the idea of the "Corn Kernel Fiber Workshop"
Corporate Partnerships
- Shimadzu: SPARQ Innovation Laboratory
- Siemens: SIMIT Simulation Laboratory
- Novozymes: Analytical Method Development, Education and Training, Process Modeling
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See you at BIO World Congress!
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Are you planning to attend BIO World Congress? The conference will be July 8-10 in Des Moines, Iowa. Be sure to stop by Booth #217 to see NCERC's Director of Research Dr. Yan Zhang, Grants & Contracts Associate Ida Hand and Specialist of Commercialization Claire Weinzierl.
If interested, feel free to set up a meeting with us during the conference. We hope to see you there!
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Fuel Ethanol Workshop
Indianapolis, IN
June 10-12
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BIO World Congress
Des Moines, IA
July 8-10
NCGA Corn Congress
Washington D.C.
July 15-18
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) 2019 Annual Meeting
Louisville, KY
August 5-7
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Conference
Omaha, NE
August 14-16
St. Louis Agribusiness Club Congressional Tour
NCERC
Edwardsville, IL
August 22
Farm Progress Show
Decatur, IL
August 27-29
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National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC)
400 University Park Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62025
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