Ontario ethanol producers gets $3.7M federal loan
by Cleantech Canada Staff
IGPC Ethanol installing Canadian-first Fiber Separation Technology system at plant in Aylmer, Ont., allowing for early separation of fibre from corn
AYLMER, Ont.—An Ontario-based ethanol producer is getting a $3.7-million loan from the federal government “to help boost production through operational efficiencies.”
IGPC Ethanol Inc. will receive the loan from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as it looks to install a Fiber Separation Technology (FST) system, the first installation of its type in Canada.
“Our government is proud to support the adoption of this first-in-Canada technology that will enable IGPC to improve the efficiency of its production processes and boost output of a renewable fuel such as ethanol,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a statement.
“This expansion will boost the local economy while creating further demand for our corn producers’ crops.”
The FST system at IGPC Ethanol’s plant in Aylmer, Ont., allows for the early separation of fibre from corn prior to its fermentation, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, increasing the efficiency of the distillation process and producing a cleaner fibre product.
The new system will allow IGPC Ethanol, a division of Integrated Grain Processors Cooperative Inc. (IGPC), to boost its output of ethanol, corn oil and distillers’ grains, develop new animal feed products, and lower the plant’s energy consumption.
IGPC Ethanol will also increase the amount of corn grain it buys from local farmers, up from 16 million bushels to 18 million bushels.
Founded in 2002 by 780 farmers and agri-businesses, IGPC Ethanol previously received a $6.09-million investment through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital Initiative (ecoABC) as it built the Aylmer plant.
Commercial operation began in 2008, and it currently employs 50 full-time staff.
“Funding such as this shows the government’s commitment to innovation in agriculture, including renewable fuels production,” IGPC Eithanol CEO Jim Grey said.
“This investment will help us bring new technology to our Aylmer facility, allowing us to greatly improve the efficiency of our plant, while laying the foundation for further investment in new technologies and new products.”
