- Ethanol can be made from local resources, supporting local economies rather than foreign wars.
- If we choose our feed stocks wisely, grow them sustainably and pay attention to what we do with the by-products of fermentation, ethanol could be the solution to our tailpipe emissions effect on global warming.
- And if you make your fuel, you take the control of one of your most significant expenses back from oil companies and governments.
With unrest now in the middle east the price of oil is ONCE again increasing rapidly. No doubt the interest in ethanol fuel stills will also be up again. We just want to remind the reader that BeUtilityFree, Inc has been making and supplying equipment and supplies to small scale ethanol producers since 2004. No doubt many companies will spring up overnight and claim that their still is one of the best etc. etc...beware of start ups!
"No one alternative energy source can replace oil. It has to be a comprehensive plan that addresses our long-term needs. And it is going to mean we will have to spend money. Yes, we will be affected in the short-term, but if someone told me we could spend $500 billion today, and that would create millions of jobs over the next several years and lead to a transition to an alternative-energy economy, I would ask where I should sign up.
But if we have no courage, we will lose every time.
So, if the only thing you know is "drill, baby, drill," and that gasoline is our only option, great. Have a wonderful time. And every time gas skyrockets, just smack yourself upside the head with that gas pump, because you're the reason we remain stuck on stupid when it comes to energy in this country."
Roland S. Martin, CNN Contributor March 12, 2011
Most Questions Are Answered on This Page and in the FAQ.
Once gasoline hit the $4 a gallon mark, we started getting a flood of calls for more information on making ethanol. In response, we've added some more basic overview information to this page. Please read on if you're looking for an overview of the processes and hardware involved.
If you've already purchased a still, there's a lot more information in your manual.
Call for a Consultation on Your Ethanol Questions.
If your interest runs deeper and you require more specific information about a part of the process, call us for a consultation. Most questions can be answered within fifteen minutes, so we offer free 15-minute phone consultations. Calls that require more time will incur a consultation fee of $1/minute.
How is ethanol made?
Take a look at this fun video for a quick overview of the process if you're new to it:
1. PROCESS FEEDSTOCK. If you start with a grain or cellulose feedstock, you'll need to grind or shred it first. Then you have to turn your feedstock into sugars either by cooking (for grain) or with the use of enzymes (for grain and cellulose). If you start with sugar or molasses, you can just skip right to #2!
2. FERMENT the sugar water with yeast into an ethanol and water mix called the 'beer'. The yeast for producing ethanol is chosen for its ability to withstand high alcohol percentages and lots of heat, not for producing good flavor. Believe me, you wouldn't want to drink this stuff!
3. SEPARATE the byproducts from the beer. How you do this depends on what feedstock you've used and on your ingenuity. Most often it'll involve a siphon, pump or well-placed spigot.
4. DISTILL the ethanol from the water with a boiler and a fuel-grade ethanol still. You get high-proof ethanol out of one nozzle of the still and low-proof out of another. The low-proof goes back into your boiler the next time you're distilling.
5. DISPOSE of your feedstock residue. Solid feedstock s may have useful and even profitable by-products like high-protein grain solids or lignin. Liquid feedstocks will leave you with nutrient-rich water which may be useful for fertilizing a garden or yard.
With all the feedstock and water involved, it's clear that there will be more than just an ethanol still involved in this system. What the whole ethanol production plant will look like is going to depend on your feedstock and your creativity. Here are some things to think about when planning an ethanol plant:
- You'll need bins and barrels for holding and mixing your feedstock and water -- maybe even several 85-gallon drums if you're making big batches. Be sure they're made of a material that won't easily rust or be deformed by hot liquids where appropriate.
- Converting the starch or cellulose to sugar and then fermenting it into a beer will make by-products that need to be removed. Creativity is key here. Some people have found used washing machines with a cloth liner in the basket to be a great way to 'spin-cycle' their useful sugars away from the by-products.
- Getting the alcohol out of the beer requires heat, so you'll need a boiler. A typical home water heater can be converted to feed into your still. Using a solar hot water panel or a wind generator for your heat source is the green way to fuel this process.
- If you plan to mix your ethanol with gasoline, you'll need to remove all traces of water from the alcohol with Zeolites and then store the resulting 200-proof in an air-tight container.
We ONLY sell and support equipment for making fuel alcohol and NOT for alcoholic beverages.
All the ethanol-making products that we sell have a PROVEN track record. They will give you between 180 and 190+ proof fuel-grade ethanol on the first run!
An average car uses 800 gallons of fuel a year. If you ran our small 3"-column still only on weekends, you'd produce enough ethanol to completely fuel one vehicle!
PERMIT REQUIRED!
By law (in the USA) one needs to apply for a from the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco. For the actual AFT alcohol fuel permit form, click here. It takes about 3-4 weeks to get your permit, so if you download the form today, fill it out and mail it in, you'll be ready to produce when your still is installed!
The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980 opened the door for small energy producers.
There is a tax credit of $.51 to $1.40 (combined state and federal credits) for each gallon of 190+ proof ethanol used in a business. (E85 gasoline does NOT qualify for the Federal tax credit because it contains 15% gasoline) You can run your car, heat your home office, shop or use it for any other business purpose! For all the information you need please read the IRS page on the Alcohol credit. Just think of driving your car and getting a tax credit too!!! This is perfectly legal as our government WANTS YOU to help our dependence on foreign oil by using HOME GROWN ethanol.
For the IRS publication on tax credits for fuel alcohol and BioDiesel click here, and for help in understanding it click here.
There are up to three Federal IRS tax forms for different types of tax credits: Form 8849 , Form 720. and Form 6478.
Most states now offer some type of incentive for alcohol or BioDiesel. Click here to see what YOUR state has to offer. For example, in the state of Colorado we can take a state tax credit for the device that converts your vehicle to ethanol-ready. There is also a Federal tax deduction from $2000 up to $50,000 (not a tax credit) for either purchasing an alcohol-fueled vehicle or a device to convert your vehicle to alcohol. Please click here for IRS publication 535 and go to page 44 for the details.
Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions
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