United States CO2 Supply in danger of depletion during COVID-19

[Snark_Wolf_Brewing]

Just a heads up to everyone out there. According to an article on the DailyMail, the United State's supply of CO2 for the food and beverage industry is in serious danger of depletion because 34 out of the 45 US ethanol plants that sell CO2 have either cut production or idled completely during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8232281/Beer-lose-fizz-CO2-supplies-flat-pandemic.html

 

[day_trippr]

Otoh, consumption of CO2 is likely down 80%

 

[Snuffy]

Getting a tank filled could be a problem with the LHBS closed. Hopefully we don't run out of priming sugar.

 

[Yesfan]

"Ethanol producers are a key provider of CO2 to the food industry, as they capture that gas as a byproduct of ethanol production and sell it in large quantities."

Ok, I'm confused. Are the ethanol producers the only ones that can make co2? I've seen threads on here where people are harvesting the co2 produced from fermentation to save on the bought co2 they have in their tanks. Why wouldn't the beer industry (and us home brewers) be any different?

Because of climate change, I thought we had too much co2.

 

[Snark_Wolf_Brewing]

Ok, I'm confused. Are the ethanol producers the only ones that can make co2? I've seen threads on here where people are harvesting the co2 produced from fermentation to save on the bought co2 they have in their tanks. Why wouldn't the beer industry (and us home brewers) be any different?

Because of climate change, I thought we had too much co2.

That's what I'm trying to figure out too. Is it only the ethanol plants in the US who are producing CO2 right now?

 

[bruce_the_loon]

That's what I'm trying to figure out too. Is it only the ethanol plants in the US who are producing CO2 right now?

Probably not, but even if they only produce half the CO2 used, you now have supply cut by 40% to 50% while demand across industry probably hasn't dropped all by the same amount. Breweries might have slowed production, but refilling CO2 fire extinguishers, metal fabrication and the rest is still consuming, along with an increase in home brewer consumption.

 

[BruceH]

It's also a byproduct of ammonia production and most food grade co2 comes from this process. That is if Wiki is correct, lol.

 

[kh54s10]

If all the bars and restaurants are closed, where is all the co2 going? As far as homebrew goes- just bottle your beers.

 

[bracconiere]

As far as homebrew goes- just bottle your beers.

NEVER! i'd sooner drink booze...

and wasn't this thread already posted?

 

[kh54s10]

NEVER! i'd sooner drink booze...

and wasn't this thread already posted?

I think it was... Unless I dreamt it!