Barley Ethanol

Europeans countries such as Spain already produce it and recent developments signal that barley ethanol may become bigger in the United States as well, with production reaching one to two billion gallons per year. Barley ethanol is less popular than corn ethanol, but it is touted as an alternative option for growers in eastern and western states who can't afford to ship corn from the Midwest. Its early maturity gives it an advantage over wheat. Besides, barley is a low-input crop that requires 30 to 40 pounds of nitrogen per acre, according to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Professor Wade Thomason.

One of the obstacles currently present in the barley ethanol production process is that it is necessary to remove the hull and other non-starch components of the kernel before fermentation.

To make barley ethanol more viable, there is research aimed at creating hull-less barley varieties with higher starch content. Besides, researchers working on the development of a barley ethanol industry are working to remove beta-glucans, a polysaccharine found in barley which makes its mash too viscous to mix, ferment and distill in a way that makes economic sense.

Of all the promises coming from barley ethanol-related research, some Virginia hull-less types of barley have been hailed as the ones with most potential. The state is seriously interested in becoming a barley ethanol player. Last year, Osage Bio Energy, headquartered in Glen Allen, VA, received a commitment of $300 million from First Reserve Corporation, a private equity firm focused on energy, to fund the construction of four next generation bio-refining facilities that will produce barley ethanol and a specialty protein feed. This could well be a major first step towards the consolidation of a barley ethanol industry in Virginia.Last year, Osage Bio Energy, headquartered in Glen Allen, VA, received a commitment of $300 million from First Reserve Corporation, a private equity firm focused on energy, to fund the construction of four next generation bio-refining facilities that will produce barley ethanol and a specialty protein feed. This could well be a major first step towards the consolidation of a barley ethanol industry in Virginia.