Renewable Energy Report: April 2015 Report

The AgMRC Renewable Fuels Monthly Report is now being produced as a partnership between the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center operated by the Value Added Agriculture Program at Iowa State Extension and Outreach (ISUEO), and the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative (IGQI) (www.iowagrain.org), an ISUEO program directed specifically at grain processing and handling.


Connection of the IGQI and the monthly report will provide a long-term connection with the research and technical expertise of Iowa State Extension and Outreach, as well as provide expanded student opportunities for interaction with industry.

Early and tentative projections point toward ample supplies of corn and soybean oil for ethanol and biodiesel production in the year ahead, with modestly higher corn costs but little change in biodiesel feed stocks costs. What does that mean for renewable fuel plants and profit margins?

Renewable energy technologies tend to generate electricity intermittently. For these technologies to be accessible 24-7, electrical storage is needed. So, renewable energy is driving the need for electricity storage.

More Information on Ethanol Profitability Corn/Ethanol Balance Sheet A detailed assessment of production, usage, carryover and prices for corn and ethanol. Distillers Grains Balance Sheet A detailed assessment of production, usage, carryover and prices for corn and ethanol.
California's continued drought and reduced snowpack means lower hydropower output. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Drought Monitor; National Drought Mitigation Center. More Information on Energy Independence
More Information on Biodiesel Profitability Soy/Oil Biodiesel Balance Sheet A detailed assessment of production, usage, carryover and prices of soy/oil and biodiesel. Biodiesel Usage and Soybean Balance Sheet A detailed assessment of biodiesel usage projections and soybean production, usage, carryover and prices.