We produce valuable products from field corn.

Products

Hand full of distillers grains

  • Ethanol: A clean-burning, high-octane renewable fuel that is blended with gasoline.
  • Distillers Grains: Dried and modified (wet) co-products from the fermenting of sugars (starch) in the corn during the distillation process. They consist of protein, fats, fiber and other solids sold as valuable livestock feed.

  • Fuel- and Feed-Grade Corn Oil: This inedible corn oil is extracted during the evaporation process of making ethanol. It is used to make renewable diesel fuel and livestock feed.

Ethanol Process Snapshot. We acquire approximately more than 500 million bushels of field corn from local suppliers annually.

Receiving

Local farmers and suppliers deliver field corn to our plants by truck and rail.

Fermentation

Water, yeast, and enzymes are mixed and heated to form corn mash, which is allowed to ferment for more than 48 hours to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Distillation

The fermented mash is heated to separate the ethanol from the water and solids in distillation.

Drying

The non-fermentable solids are dried to produce the feed product – distillers grains.

Markets

Ethanol is shipped primarily by rail to fuel providers who mix the ethanol with gasoline to be sold at Valero stations and other fuel outlets. 

Distillers grains are shipped primarily by truck, rail and barge to businesses that process them into livestock feed. The corn oil is shipped primarily to plants to make renewable diesel fuel.
 

Turning Corn Into Ethanol
Production Capacity at Our Largest Plants

Ethanol Production Infographic

The Science of Ethanol

  • What is Ethanol?

    Ethanol is a clear liquid that is blended with gasoline, improving combustion that releases the energy to power the car’s engine. 

    Ethanol lowers life cycle greenhouse gas emissions up to 28% compared to non-blended gasoline.

  • Is Ethanol Made From Corn I Can Eat?

    Ethanol is made from field corn, which typically is used for livestock feed and industrial use. The kind of corn we eat is called sweet corn. Only one percent of corn grown in the U.S. is sweet corn for human consumption. The remainder is field corn used for livestock feed and fuels.

  • How Much Corn is Used to Produce Ethanol?

    At Valero, each year we use approximately 588 million bushels of corn, to supply our ethanol plants.

  • How Many Products Do You Get From Corn?

    Processing corn results in ethanol, distillers grains and fuel- and feed-grade corn oil. 

  • What are Distillers Grains?

    Distillers grains are the co-product from the fermenting process, consisting of protein, fat, fiber and other solids. These can be dried or modified (wet), which require different storage.

    Because of its concentration of nutrients, distillers grains are a valuable livestock feed for cattle, swine and poultry.

Ethanol Technology and Equipment

Farmers inspecting Corn
Ethanol Technology and Equipment
Harvesting Corn
Filling Truck with corn for processing
Ethanol Technology and Equipment
Valero Renewables employee working in laboratory
Ethanol Technology and Equipment
Ethanol production process
Farmers inspecting Corn
Ethanol Technology and Equipment
Harvesting Corn
Filling Truck with corn for processing
Ethanol Technology and Equipment
Valero Renewables employee working in laboratory
Ethanol Technology and Equipment
Ethanol production process
modern plants

Reliable, Efficient Operations

Modern Plants

All our ethanol plants have been built in the last 20 years and use state-of-the-art technology and modern control systems. We are a leader in the industry in production efficiency and energy efficiency.

See Our Ethanol Plants

Science and Process Supplying quality high-quality fuels, through safe, reliable and environmentally responsible operations.

Farmer watering cornfield with tractor
Utility Nav

Corn Bids

Learn more about the corn we purchase from farmers, see the best time to market your corn and get links to Valero’s daily corn prices on the daily corn bids websites.