Regional case studies for biomass and bioenergy production – Case Study Hungary 2: Hungrana Ltd.

Regional case studies for biomass and bioenergy production – Case Study Hungary 2: Hungrana Ltd.

Main topic: Good practices, case studies, pilots
Document / search engine: Regional case studies for biomass and bioenergy production – Case Study Hungary 2: Hungrana Ltd.
Framework project: Building a Green Energy and Logistics Belt
Short name of the project:
Website link: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/uploads/media/approved_project_public/0001/22/0309cac8c6776e5f46c5191a1c2678dbef869f7a.pdf
CORDIS link if relevant:
Short description:

The case study analyses the present production activities and future opportunities of the
Hungrana Starch and Isosugar Manufacturing and Trading Co. Ltd, which is the most significant
corn processing company in Europe.
The introduction and operation of the plant have been presented by the company’s experts.
Information was gathered from the fodder, sugar and alcohol production, solid biomass
combustion as well as the logistic department. Among others, quality and amount characteristics
of the raw materials, production features, especially bioenergy production as well as logistic and
commercial parameters have been assessed.
In case of the Hungrana plant in the town of Szabadegyháza, the supply chain is quite complex.
Feed corn is transported on road or on rail directly after harvesting (during the harvest period
between September and November) or in dried form after storage. Port capacities are a part of
the logistics chain regarding the company’s export activity. The transport of various by-products
(corn germ, corn gluten, pellets etc.) is carried out by waterways. The produced bioethanol is
transported on rail or road to refineries or to export.
Based on the findings of the case study, Hungrana is able to capitalize on the utilization of
renewable energy sources due to the environmentally friendly and efficient production method.
In addition to bioethanol production, Hungrana burns approximately 70,000 t of residue biomass
such as sunflower husks annually in its existing biomass power plant, generating steam and
thermal energy covering two-thirds of its needs.
Hungarian ethanol producers have invested approximately 430-450 Mio. Euro over the past ten
years, which has only partially recovered up until today. The domestic ethanol production has
only a short-term future vision until 2020. It is not clear yet which EU quota will be determined
after 2030 in terms of the compulsory mixing rate for gasoline. On the other hand, it is important
to emphasize that together with bioethanol, valuable feed materials are also produced during the
process.


Countries/regions described/represented: Hungary
Year: 2018