Ethanol fuel produced from sweet sorghum in Philippines

Philippines-based San Carlos Bioenergy has claimed to have produced ethanol fuel from sweet sorghum feedstock.

The company’s chairman Jose Zabaleta says this is a ‘major breakthrough and a first for the Philippines and Southeast Asia’ as his team overcame technical difficulties associated with producting ethanol from sorghum.

‘We were able to produce 247 litres of fuel grade ethanol for every ton of sweet sorghum syrup. We believe it will be cheaper to produce ethanol this way,’ says University of the Philippines Los Baños Alternative Energy Research, Development and Extension professor Rex Demafelis.

The sweet sorghum came from 30 hectares planted in Sagay City and converted into syrup by Options mill.

‘We have more to learn and improve on of course,’ adds Zabaleta, ‘but this shows small planters in the hills, or small land reform beneficiaries, can increase their income growing sorghum for food and energy.’

The project also included input from the Sagay City government and the Department of Agriculture Bureau of the Agricultural Research and Biomass Resources.