September 2005 ISSUE
FROM THE BRANCHES
Ethanol Plant Arises in Lloydminster
BY SHELDON STARK, P.ENG.
Vermilion River Branch Chair
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Construction is progressing on the underground and above ground piping, foundations and structures for the Lloydminster Ethanol Plant. Steel fermentation tans will soon be erected on top of the cone-buttom structures. The 130 foot high grain storage silos (back right) were constructed in six days utilizing a "slip form" technique. The means the slip form is slowly raised as reinforcing steel and concrete are placed into the form to construct the silo walls. The foreground shows the foundations for the equipment and tanks in the production building. - Photo provided by Lloydminster ethanol plant. |
Husky Energy is constructing Western Canada’s largest ethanol plant on the site of its heavy oil upgrader at Lloydminster, Sask. The plant will produce 130 million litres of fuel grade ethanol and 134,000 tonnes of distillers dried grain with solubles per year.
For feedstock, Husky will purchase 350,000 tonnes of grain per year, most of it wheat, from local producers.
Husky is building the plant next to its heavy oil upgrader to make the best use of existing energy sources and utilities, such as waste heat, electricity, natural gas, water and steam. This will make the plant more environmentally friendly and reduce natural gas consumption and air emissions.
Building the plant next to the upgrader also enables the company to take advantage of the existing railway and highway infrastructure.
Operations Begin Next Year
Construction began in late 2004 with completion anticipated for the first quarter
of 2006. It’s expected that the plant will be fully operational by the
second quarter. About 40 to 60 person-years of engineering will be required during
the design and construction of the facility.
It will create more than 300 person-years of employment during construction with a peak workforce of 300 people. A permanent full-time workforce of 25 to 30 positions will be created once the plant becomes operational.
There is also a large potential for indirect jobs as well.
Ethanol is alcohol produced from wheat and other renewable feedstocks. It is high in octane and is used as a fuel additive. Husky will purchase various types of wheat, primarily from local producers, including farmers, community groups and grain companies.
CPS red, CPS white, winter wheat and durum are preferred, while hard red spring and other grades may also be considered. These feedstocks have the high starch content required to yield high production rates of ethanol.
The quality criteria for this product will be similar to the feed industry’s: moisture content less than 15 per cent, test weight minimum 58 lb. per bushel, and fusarium, which is a fungus, maximum one p.p.m. of the toxin vomitoxin. Mouldy wheat won’t be considered.
The plant will also be capable of proc-essing limited quantities of barley, rye and tritacale, although there are viscosity concerns when these grains are mixed with water.
Distillers dried grain with solubles is a dry co-product used as an alternative, non-animal based, high protein feed supplement for livestock. If sufficient market demand develops in the area for wet distillers grain, modifications to the facility will enable Husky to supply it as well.
In addition to being a renewable fuel, ethanol in gasoline can promote a more complete combustion, leading to emission reductions. Studies have shown that 10 per cent ethanol-blended gasoline can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 10 per cent, carbon monoxide emissions by up to 20 per cent, and smog-creating compounds by up to 15 per cent.
A Car Friendly Gas
Ethanol-blended gasoline is fully warranty approved for all domestic and import
vehicles sold in Canada. Some manufacturers, in fact, recommend ethanol-blend
as the fuel of choice.
In vehicles manufactured prior to the early 1970s, ethanol-blended gasoline occasionally causes rubber engine seals to dry and crack. In newer vehicles, however, reformulated rubber compounds have eliminated the problem.
Ethanol possesses some detergent properties that help keep fuel tanks and systems clean of contaminants such as sludge, deposits and water. Ethanol also acts as a natural antifreeze for gasoline in winter temperatures.
The Government of Saskatchewan has mandated the use of ethanol-blended gasolines within the province. That’s what fueled Husky’s decision to build the plant.
This is not Husky’s first venture into the business, however.
Since 1981 the company has operated a 10-million-litre-a-year facility at Minnedosa, Man. The Lloydminster plant will process over 13 million bushels of wheat per year, compared with the two million bushels from Minnedosa.
Husky will use the ethanol to supply its own retail network, as well as most of Saskatchewan’s fuel retailers. There’s also potential for export sales.
MORE INFO
Visit www.huskyenergy.ca