Ethanol
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Manildra Group owns and operates an Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) distillery at Nowra on the South Coast of New South Wales.
This site converts industrial grade wheat flour into its primary products of protein and carbohydrate. A by-product of the carbohydrate production is Ethanol.
Manildra's Nowra distillery is the largest Ethanol producer in Australia offering a range of grades suitable for all applications.
Ethanol is commonly used in manufacturing for industries such as the Beverage, Food, Pharmaceutical, Personal Care, Ink, Industrial, Cleaning and Hygiene, Surface Coating and Explosives.
With concerns for the environment, the future supply of oil and the ever increasing price of oil, Ethanol has re-emerged as a popular alternative to fossil fuels. Today, many car manufacturers offer vehicles which run on either pure Ethanol or blends of Ethanol and Petroleum such as E85 (a blend containing 85% Ethanol and 15% Petrol) or E10 ( a blend of 10% Ethanol and 90% Petrol) or any blend in between.
Since Manildra commenced manufacturing Ethanol in 1992 we have continued to expand our facilities to meet the ever growing demand and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels.
Some Facts on Ethanol
What are renewable fuels?
Renewable fuels, such as ethanol, are clean burning fuels produced from agricultural products.
An important fact about ethanol is that unlike fossil fuels it is made from a renewable resource, Australian agricultural crops that can be grown again and again.
The most common renewable fuels in the world are ethanol and biodiesel. They are used to blend with fuel in petrol and diesel. Many billions of kilometers are driven on ethanol blended fuel around the world each year, proving it is a safe and reliable fuel.
Ethanol contains oxygen that stimulates the more efficient combustion of petrol fuels in petrol and diesel engines. In doing so renewable fuels reduce harmful petrol and diesel exhaust emissions that pollute the air we breathe and pose a risk to human health.
Ethanol and biodiesel significantly reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions. When burnt, renewable fuels release carbon monoxide that plants reabsorb in a never-ending cycle during their growth phase.
How is ethanol made?
Ethanol is alcohol made by fermenting starches or sugars from a feed source.
Where is it made in Australia?
There are three companies currently manufacturing ethanol in Australia. A fourth ethanol refinery has just been approved in Northern Queensland.
How is Manildra ethanol made?
Manildra makes its ethanol from waste as part of an integrated manufacturing process at the Nowra plant. As part of this process flour is separated into gluten (protein) and starch. The protein is removed from flour and is sold to food manufacturers worldwide. Starch is used by a number of businesses within the confectionary, beverage and paper industries. The residual starch from this process is converted to Ethanol.
The waste from ethanol production is turned in to a protein rich livestock feed that supplements the diet of hundreds of thousands of cattle in Australia, New Zealand and the international market.
How is Ethanol used?
There are different grades of ethanol used for both the fuel industry and industrial uses:
Fuel Ethanol
In the United States and Brazil higher ethanol blends ranging from 85% to 100% ethanol content are used in Flexible Fuel Vehicles.
E85 is becoming more readily available throughout Australia to suit the new range of flexible fuel vehicles.
Industrial Ethanol
Industrial ethanol is used in pharmaceutical products and products such as methylated spirits, aerosol sprays and printing inks.
Ethanol and Engine performance
Ethanol is a high octane fuel for exceptional engine performance and reduced emissions.
Ethanol has been used in cars since Henry Ford designed his 1908 Model T to operate on alcohol.
Trillions of kilometers have been driven on ethanol-blended fuel since 1980. In the United States all of the 250 million cars run on at least a 10% ethanol blend, E10.
Can you switch between regular unleaded petrol and E10?
Yes, you can. E10 is interchangeable with other petrol fuels. In fact all unleaded petrol in Australia must conform to National Fuel Quality Regulations. If E10 is not available just fill up with your normal petrol.
Can I use it in my car?
E10 is a safe and reliable fuel that had been used in New South Wales since 1992.
Ethanol blended fuel has detergent properties. These properties keep your cars fuel injection system clean, optimising the performance of your car.
Most cars designed to use regular unleaded petrol have also been designed to run on a 10% ethanol blend and still meet manufacturers warranties. The manufacturers of some European and prestige cars specify that they are only designed to run on premium, high octane fuels.
Using ethanol blended petrol will actually increase the power output of your car. Ethanol has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded petrol.
Ethanol is great value:
E10 is currently the least expensive fuel on the market. It’s high octane rating means you are buying a superior fuel at a discounted price.
What are the environmental benefits of using ethanol?
Ethanol is one of the best tools we have to fight air pollution from vehicles. There is no fuel available at scale today that matches ethanol's ability to improve overall air quality .
Ethanol contains 35% oxygen. Adding oxygen to fuel results in a more complete fuel combustion, reducing harmful tailpipe emissions. Ethanol also displaces the use of toxic gasoline components such as benzene, a carcinogen. Ethanol is non-toxic, water soluble and quickly biodegradable.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel produced from plants, unlike petroleum-based fossil fuels that have a limited supply and are the major contributor of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas (GHG).
Using ethanol in place of gasoline helps to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 29% given today's technology.
What are its health benefits?
Air pollution causes respiratory problems such as asthma and lung cancer. Exhaust emissions from vehicles are a contributing factor to these conditions.
Ethanol is the best immediate solution Australia has to fight pollution generated by vehicles, which pose a threat to your health and your family’s health every day. Ethanol significantly reduces fine particulate emissions and toxic exhaust emissions, which are a major cause of respiratory problems.
The Australian Medical Association and the Australian Lung Foundation both support the use of a 10% ethanol blend in all petrol based on these health benefits.
The American Lung Association and the Brazilian Government credits ethanol blended petrol with reducing smog forming emission in major US and Brazilian cities.
For your families health insist on using ethanol blended fuel.
Why is there a mandate for the use of ethanol?
Ethanol use in NSW has been mandated to promote the development of the renewable fuels industry in Australia. The health benefits of ethanol have been the driving force behind mandating ethanol blends in 51 countries.
Australia is one of only few countries on the world that do not have a federal mandate on ethanol blended fuels.
Energy Security
Locally produced renewable fuels like ethanol reduces Australia's reliance on depleting imported fossil fuels and is vital to the nations energy security.
Australia currently has a fuel trade deficit of $18 billion dollars a year on an annualized basis. This equates to spending $2 million per hour on imported fuel.
How does ethanol create jobs?
Domestic production of renewable fuels adds value to our agricultural products and stimulates economic growth and employment in our rural communities. In the US the production of 40 billion litres of ethanol a year has created over 400,000 jobs in rural America.
Will it damage my outboard motor? What about my lawn mower or whipper snipper?
The majority of small engines have been designed to run on a 10% ethanol blended fuel. However, you should check the owners manual for more information.
Ethanol and Motor sports
Ethanol is emerging as one of the world's new performance fuels. Several teams in national and international racing competitions use ethanol because of its high octane and exceptional performance.
In 2009, the V8 Supercars - Australia’s peak motorsport series - recognised its benefits. It changed to E85, an 85% ethanol blend, as a control fuel for all races including the iconic Bathurst 1000 competition. Holden is following suit with its iconic Commodore.
Ethanol Plant, Nowra, New South Wales.