The world’s first fuel ethanol project using ferroalloy industrial exhaust gas was officially put into operation on the 28th in Pingluo County, Shizuishan City, Ningxia. The project is expected to produce 45,000 tons of fuel ethanol and 5,000 tons of protein powder per year, achieving an output value of 330 million yuan, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 180,000 tons per year.

The technology of bio-fermentation of industrial exhaust gas to produce fuel ethanol is an emerging biotechnology process, which can realize the efficient and clean utilization of industrial exhaust gas resources. This technology is of great significance for reducing carbon emissions, replacing fossil energy, ensuring national energy and food security, and building a green and low-carbon circular economy system.

It is understood that the use of this technology can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.9 tons per ton of fuel ethanol produced, and the addition of fuel ethanol to gasoline can effectively reduce automobile exhaust pollution. At the same time, this technology uses non-grain raw materials, and every ton of fuel ethanol produced can save 3 tons of grain and reduce the use of arable land by 4 acres, which helps ensure food security.

“(The) project has exemplary significance for promoting the ferroalloy industry to change the traditional energy utilization mode, improving the comprehensive utilization of resources, and properly coordinating emission reduction and development.” Li Xinchuang, Vice President of China Iron and Steel Association and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute At the project commissioning ceremony held on the same day, it was stated that the commissioning of the project of using ferroalloy industrial tail gas to produce fuel ethanol was a major breakthrough in the development of low-carbon transformation of the ferroalloy industry.