Corn Yields Set to Rise to Meet Ethanol Needs

The production of ethanol is energy efficient as it yields almost 25 percent more energy than is used in growing the corn, harvesting it, and distilling it into ethanol. The most recent findings show that corn ethanol fuel is energy efficient and yields an energy output:input ratio of 1.6. To get further details and view graphical representations of the energy balance picture, go to: Ethanol - The Complete Energy Lifecycle Picture (PDF 4 MB), developed by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Early ethanol plants were energy intensive, raising concerns as to whether the transportation fuel being produced was worth the energy going into making it. But the efficiency of corn ethanol production has increased over the last ten years and technical advancements have improved the net energy value of corn ethanol. Today, producing ethanol from corn using our domestic supplies of coal and natural gas achieves a net gain in the form of energy and helps displace the need for foreign oil.

One of the biggest critics of fuel ethanol is David Pimentel, Cornell University. He asserts that it takes about 70% more energy to grow corn and make ethanol from it than what goes into the ethanol. Among other things, however, his analysis is based on old data and does not give any credit for the energy value of the animal feed co-product of making ethanol. On August 23, 2005, the National Corn Growers Association hosted The Debate on the Net Energy Balance of Ethanol, which directly addresses and refutes Pimentel's claims.
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