Does the way you produce ethanol use less energy than it replaces?
Energy analysts refer to this as Energy Recovery on Energy Invested (EROEI). It can also be more simply referred to as energy balance. The energy we use to produce ethanol comes from a renewable source as opposed to fossil fuels and this has the effect of reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources. We utilize a gasifier/burner that burns the manure and waste from the cattle facility - referred to as the gasification process - and provides enough heat energy to produce the ethanol.  It is important to note that the gasifier/burner burns the manure and waste virtually emission free.

Is ethanol production the principal objective of Hybrid Fuels?
As stated in our plan of operation the Company's intended principal business is to integrate cattle feeding and finishing with electrical power generation. The main source of revenue for the Company is expected to come from the sale of electrical power and finished cattle.  Ethanol produced by our facilities is expected to be used in the gasification process rather than sold as a fuel additive.  It is anticipated that using ethanol in this process will result in a significant increase in heat energy, ie. BTUs, for the purpose of electrical power generation.

Shouldn't we be using grain for food instead of producing ethanol?
Only the starch (carbohydrate) portion of the grain is used to make the ethanol. The remaining grain mash retains the fibre, protein, minerals and vitamins and is fed back to the animals along with the stillage water that is also high in nutrients. The effect of the conversion process is to make these nutrients more available to the animal's digestive system with the result that we can generate a pound of gain for around 7 pounds of grain, which is better than the average feedlot realizes. Thus we "borrow" the grain to make the ethanol without removing it from the food chain.

How much grain would be required to produce the ethanol?
Is there a grain of preference? A 400-head facility is expected to use approximately 200 bushels per day. The ideal grain is barley because it ferments readily and produces a good feedstock, which is readily digestible by the animals.

How much ethanol can you produce with your facility?
It is expected that each of our 400-head facilities will produce approximately 1,600 liters per day.  The ethanol is intended to be "de-natured" with approximately 2% diesel fuel so there is no pure ethanol accessible in the facility.