Illinois ethanol plant to add biodiesel capabilities

US-based Adkins Energy has been awarded a $500,000 (€371,945) Rural Energy for America Programme (REAP) grant to begin construction on a $4.5 million biodiesel plant on the east side of its Illinois campus.

The 2 million gallon facility is expected to begin production in spring 2014. The company’s ethanol arm currently produces 1.5 million gallons of distillers corn oil a year, which is sold either into the biodiesel production market or as a supplement to the animal feed market.

Adkins will use this feedstock to produce the biodiesel in its facility, a process which will be fully integrated into existing ethanol operations. WB Services, in Kansas, is to partner with Adkins on the project.

‘We are thankful that the US Department of Agriculture sees the value in this project,’ says Adkins Energy GM Ray Baker. ‘This project is another example of how the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is working; it is encouraging continued investment in advanced bio-refineries and creating new jobs.’

The new plant will cover around 8,500sq ft but Adkins says it will be designed so that more equipment could be added to double production capabilities if opportunity allows.