The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

December 5, 2006

Ethanol plant to add wind turbines

Winnebago plant aims for self-sufficency

By Mark Fischenich

WINNEBAGO — The Corn Plus ethanol plant in Winnebago is to add wind turbines to its facility during the next three to four months, moving closer to its ultimate goal of using no outside energy in the processing plant.

Corn Plus officials announced Tuesday they were entering into an agreement that will place two wind-powered electricity generators on the plant site as early as March 1. When the turbines are up and running at capacity, they will provide about 45 percent of the electricity the plant needs.

The wind turbines will produce 4.2 megawatts of power, the equivalent of the amount used by well over 1,000 homes. And it will be the second major project Corn Plus has undertaken to reduce its dependency on outside energy sources.

Dan Moore, a Blue Earth area farmer and director of project development for Renewable Energy Solutions, said he sees no reason that Corn Plus won’t be the first of many Minnesota ethanol plants to add wind energy.

“I really haven’t heard of any others doing it,” Moore said. “And I don’t know why they’re not doing it because it makes so much sense. ... It’s a renewable making a renewable.”

The project is being developed by the Corn Plus Cooperative, Renewable Energy Solutions and John Deere Wind Energy.

“Partnering with John Deere opened many doors for us,” Moore said. “They were able to provide turbines and financing for turbines and construction crews ...”

Moore was concerned earlier in the year about finding turbines at a reasonable cost because of the intense demand for wind energy worldwide. John Deere, a growing presence in wind energy development, reached an agreement to buy 100 of the 2.1 megawatt turbines from Suzlon Energy Ltd. in 2007, according to industry publications.

The wind project follows the installation by Corn Plus of a fluid-bed reactor that burns biomass such as corn syrup, a byproduct of the ethanol process, to generate steam needed to run the plant. That reduced natural gas consumption by the plant by more than half, said Keith Kor, general manager of the plant.

Kor’s long-range goal is for the plant to be completely energy self-sufficient. The plant will be halfway there if the wind turbines, when they are up and running in early spring, meet expectations.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News