U.S. Leads Ranking of Top 25 Countries for Global Biofuels Production Capacity

PRNewswire

HOUSTON, Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. concluded 2010 as the top renewable ethanol producing country, according to the Global Biofuels Outlook to 2020, recently released from Hart Energy Consulting's Global Biofuels Center (GBC). With more than 51 billion liters (13.47 billion gallons) of ethanol production capacity in operation, the U.S. is by far the leader, with South America's largest nation, Brazil, following with nearly 27 billion liters (7.1 billion gallons). When combined, these two countries represent 82% of ethanol production capacity in operation worldwide. China ranks a distant third at more than 2.7 billion liters (713 million gallons). The ranking continues with France in fourth place. Canada rounds out the top five.

"In 2009, the U.S. ethanol industry had a total of 170 operating plants. We at GBC track all plants - existing, planned, and proposed - not only in the U.S. but in 75 countries around the world. Our analysis concludes that by the close of 2010, that number rose to a total of 187 operating plants. Many producers rushed to complete projects that had been under construction in advance of EPA's deadline to 'grandfather' plants under RFS2," explains Michael Marshall, lead research analyst for GBC, and primary author of the report.

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