U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center - Ethanol
Ethanol Distribution
Ethanol producers face unique distribution challenges. Most ethanol plants are concentrated in the Midwestern United States, but gasoline consumption is highest along the East and West Coasts.
- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 90% of ethanol is transported by train or truck. The remaining 10% is transported by barge or pipeline.
- A tanker truck can carry 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of ethanol.
- One rail car can carry approximately 30,000 gallons of ethanol.
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Schematic of Rail and Truck Ethanol Distribution System
Source: USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Ethanol Transportation Backgrounder (PDF 1.2 MB).
Ethanol Pipelines
Delivering ethanol by pipeline is the most desirable option, but ethanol's affinity for water and solvent properties require use of a dedicated pipeline or significant cleanup of existing pipelines.
- Kinder Morgan ships batches of ethanol through its Central Florida Pipeline and is evaluating shipping ethanol on its Plantation Pipeline (see map). For details see the Central Florida Pipeline Ethanol Project (PDF 157 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
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Kinder Morgan Products Pipelines and Facilities
Source: USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Ethanol Transportation Backgrounder (PDF 1.2 MB) - POET and Magellan Midstream Partners are assessing the feasibility of a dedicated ethanol pipeline linking the Midwest and Northeast United States (see the press release and map).
To learn more about the larger agricultural distribution system, see Ethanol Feedstock Logistics.