Calgren Ethanol Fuels Ventures into Power Generation

Canadian ethanol producer Calgren Renewable Fuels has now invested in key co-products to sell aside from its 58 million gallons per year ethanol output.

The Calgren plant in Pixley, California sells 400,000 tonnes per year of distiller's grain for use as animal feed to local dairies and feedlots as well as 1.5 million gallons of corn oil for local poultry producers and biodiesel facilities. Calgren also uses dairy manure biogas to fire the boilers at the refinery, turning waste into a useful fuel with the heat generated also making electric power.

Calgren now looks to take advantage of another by-product of their process: electricity generated from the expanded operation. The company now produces 11MW of electric power, which is used in running the refinery. The plant is now self-sufficient and is not connected to the electric grid. Starting in June, Calgren will also be selling 5MW of excess power to Southern California Edison, enough to power 900 homes or all the residences in Pixley.