Photo: Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC
November 25, 2013
BY Ron Kotrba
Patriot Holdings LLC announced that its board of directors approved formation of a new subsidiary—Patriot Fuels, Biodiesel LLC—to build a 5 MMgy biodiesel production facility adjacent to the Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC (“PRF”) ethanol plant in Annawan, Ill. The plant will use distillers corn oil from the 40 million bushels of corn PRF processes annually.
“PRF began corn oil extraction in 2011 and this is a natural extension of that business,” said vice president and general manager Rick Vondra. “We have been extracting increasing volumes of corn oil and selling it to other biodiesel producers, or for inclusion into livestock feed. By processing corn oil on-site we can reduce transportation, and marketing costs making Patriot’s biodiesel one of the most cost competitive producers in the biodiesel industry today.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Funding and development assistance is provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity New Generation Biofuels Production Program.
Concrete and foundation work are expected to begin in December and the plant is scheduled to begin operation by third quarter 2014. The plant will utilize the trademarked SUPER Process production system designed by Jatrodiesel out of Miamisburg, Ohio. Rahul Bobbili, Jatrodiesel’s vice president, said, “Jatro has built more than 15 biodiesel plants and is excited that Patriot will use this new technology.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
The new technology being offered is a single-stage, catalyst-free, supercritical process technology that will process feedstock with free fatty acids up to 100 percent with minimal or no loss in yield. It will completely eliminate the use of a homogenous catalyst such as sodium methylate, or a heterogeneous catalyst, providing a substantial savings.
“Today, we are a producer of 120 million gallons of ethanol per year,” Vondra added. “With the previously announced addition of ICM Inc.’s Selective Milling Technology, PRF will see increased ethanol and corn oil recovery yields, resulting in higher revenues. Five million gallons of biodiesel will further increase our revenues.”
The USDA significantly increased its estimate for 2025-’26 soybean oil use in biofuel production in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released July 11. The outlook for soybean production was revised down.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration maintained its forecast for 2025 and 2026 biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released July 8.
XCF Global Inc. on July 10 shared its strategic plan to invest close to $1 billion in developing a network of SAF production facilities, expanding its U.S. footprint, and advancing its international growth strategy.
U.S. fuel ethanol capacity fell slightly in April, while biodiesel and renewable diesel capacity held steady, according to data released by the U.S. EIA on June 30. Feedstock consumption was down when compared to the previous month.
XCF Global Inc. on July 8 provided a production update on its flagship New Rise Reno facility, underscoring that the plant has successfully produced SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha during its initial ramp-up.