Guardian Energy Mangement
Guardian Energy Management is a privately held management company that oversees three farmer-cooperative-owned ethanol plants in the Midwest, producing 150M gallons of ethanol, 338K tons of DDGS, and 46M lbs of corn oil annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersPrior Lake, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Guardian Energy Mangement does
Guardian Energy Management is a privately held management company headquartered in Prior Lake, Minnesota, that oversees the operations of three ethanol production facilities located in Janesville (MN), Hankinson (ND), and Lima (OH). Founded in October 2011, the entity operates as the operational management layer for a multi-plant ethanol production group whose underlying facilities are privately owned by five farmer-owned ethanol cooperatives (Al-Corn Clean Fuels, Heartland Corn Products, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative, Golden Grain Energy, and Lake Area Corn Processors). The company employs 101-250 people and is led by CEO Jeanne McCaherty.
The company's core operations center on dry corn milling ethanol production. Locally sourced corn is ground into flour, enzymatically converted into sugar, fermented into ethanol, and distilled; the process yields multiple revenue-generating outputs. At full capacity the group produces 150 million gallons of corn starch-based ethanol and 4 million gallons of lower-carbon-intensity cellulosic ethanol annually, alongside 338,000 tons of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for animal feed and 46 million pounds of corn oil for biodiesel and industrial applications. The combined corn throughput across all facilities is 50 million bushels per year.
Guardian's go-to-market is bifurcated. On the supply side, the company purchases corn directly from local growers using a dynamic cash bid system tied to futures markets, supported by customer portals and location-specific mobile apps. On the distribution side, all ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil output is marketed exclusively through Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG), in which Guardian holds an equity stake. End customers include gasoline blenders purchasing ethanol for E10/E15/E85 blends, livestock operations purchasing DDGS, and biodiesel producers purchasing corn oil. The company positions itself as one of the largest US ethanol producers and reports top-quartile operational performance in yields and efficiencies versus industry benchmarks.
Guardian Energy Mangement firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Guardian Energy Mangement
- Legal name
- Guardian Energy Management
- Website
- https://guardiannrg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Guardian Energy Management is a privately held management company that oversees three farmer-cooperative-owned ethanol plants in the Midwest, producing 150M gallons of ethanol, 338K tons of DDGS, and 46M lbs of corn oil annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Guardian Energy Mangement industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ethanol Production
- NAICS
- Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing (325193)
- SIC
- Grain Mill Products (2040)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cellulosic Biofuels & Renewable Fuels (2G ethanol, SAF intermediates) (IMAMALAA), Corn (Maize) Farming (AFAGAAAB)
Keywords
Where Guardian Energy Mangement is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prior Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Guardian Energy Mangement business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Ethanol Sales: Production and sale of corn starch-based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol. Ethanol is sold as renewable fuel that can be blended with gasoline in various blends (E10, E15, E85). RPMG handles all marketing of ethanol production.
- DDGS (Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles): Animal feed product remaining after corn kernel is converted into ethyl alcohol. Contains high levels of protein and fat, suitable for hogs, poultry, and cattle.
- Corn Oil: Distillers corn oil is a crude vegetable oil product created when oil is separated from syrup. Used for biofuel, animal nutrition, and industrial applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Guardian Energy Mangement product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Guardian Energy Management operates a multi-plant ethanol production group that processes locally grown corn via dry corn milling to produce corn starch-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for animal feed, and corn oil for biodiesel and industrial applications. The company runs three production facilities across the Midwest and sells all output through Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG).
Product overview
Guardian Energy Management is a multi-plant ethanol production group that operates as a unified platform managing three production facilities (Hankinson, ND; Janesville, MN; Lima, OH) plus a management headquarters in Prior Lake, MN. The company produces four main products: Corn Starch Based Ethanol (150 million gallons annually), Cellulosic Ethanol (second-generation biofuel from corn fiber), Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) for animal feed (338,000 tons annually), Corn Oil for biofuel and industrial applications (46 million pounds annually), and Corn Kernel Fiber Ethanol (4 million gallons of low carbon intensity fuel). The product portfolio is supported by customer-facing mobile apps for each production location enabling contract viewing, pricing access, and business information management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corn Starch Based Ethanol
Quantifiable outcome
- Top quartile performance in yields and efficiencies among all ethanol plants
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Guardian Energy Mangement
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Guardian Energy Mangement technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Guardian Energy Mangement partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG)coreRPMG is the sole marketer of all Guardian Energy ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil. Guardian Energy is an investor in RPMG. This exclusive marketing partnership handles all product distribution and sales for Guardian's production facilities.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Guardian Energy Mangement competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cargill: Cargill is a major corn originator and has historically been involved in ethanol processing and DDGS marketing. It is comparable through its corn origination overlap and downstream feed/oil demand that underpins Guardian's customer base.
- Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): ADM is a global agribusiness giant with significant corn ethanol production, grain origination, and animal feed operations. It overlaps Guardian's corn sourcing, ethanol, and DDGS activities as part of a much broader agricultural processing portfolio.
- Flint Hills Resources: Flint Hills Resources, a Koch subsidiary, operates multiple ethanol plants and downstream fuel distribution. It is comparable as a large-scale dry-mill ethanol producer with integrated fuel marketing, similar to Guardian's RPMG arrangement.
Others
- Novozymes (Novonesis): Novozymes supplies enzymes used in the corn-to-ethanol liquefaction and saccharification process at plants like Guardian's. It is comparable as a critical input supplier to Guardian's production technology stack.
- ICM, Inc. ICM is a leading ethanol plant engineering and process technology provider to the dry-mill ethanol industry. It is comparable as an enabler/technology supplier for the type of dry-mill facilities Guardian operates.
Direct peers
- Green Plains Inc. Green Plains is a publicly traded multi-plant ethanol producer with comparable corn starch ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil production, plus adjacent protein/feed ingredients business. It is one of the closest scale and product-mix comparables to Guardian.
- Valero Renewable Fuels: Valero operates 12 corn ethanol plants producing ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil, integrated with its larger refining and fuel marketing business. Closely comparable in product mix and blending-distribution scale to Guardian.
- Alto Ingredients (formerly Pacific Ethanol): Alto Ingredients operates multiple corn ethanol plants producing ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil, and is a directly comparable multi-plant dry-mill ethanol producer, though smaller in scale than Guardian.
- POET: POET is the largest US ethanol producer, operating ~30 plants across the corn belt with similar dry-mill corn starch ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil co-product portfolios. It is the most directly comparable peer to Guardian in scale, technology, and farmer-supply orientation.
Emerging players
- Aemetis: Aemetis operates a corn ethanol plant in Keyes, CA with adjacent cellulosic and renewable diesel projects. It is comparable to Guardian's ethanol + cellulosic mix and shares exposure to low-carbon fuel credits (LCFS).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Guardian Energy Mangement social profiles
Digital presenceGuardian Energy Mangement financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Guardian Energy Mangement leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Guardian Energy Mangement subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Guardian Energy Mangement funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Guardian Energy Mangement M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Guardian Energy Mangement
What does Guardian Energy Mangement do?
Guardian Energy Management operates a multi-plant ethanol production group that processes locally grown corn via dry corn milling to produce corn starch-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for animal feed, and corn oil for biodiesel and industrial applications. The company runs three production facilities across the Midwest and sells all output through Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG).
Is Guardian Energy Mangement a public or private company?
Guardian Energy Mangement is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Guardian Energy Mangement founded?
Guardian Energy Mangement was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Guardian Energy Mangement based?
Guardian Energy Mangement is headquartered in Prior Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Guardian Energy Mangement make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ethanol Sales are the primary driver. The others are DDGS (Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles) and corn Oil.
Who are Guardian Energy Mangement's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Flint Hills Resources. Others are Novozymes (Novonesis) and ICM, Inc.. Direct peers are Green Plains Inc., Valero Renewable Fuels, Alto Ingredients (formerly Pacific Ethanol) and POET. Aemetis is listed as an emerging player.
Does Guardian Energy Mangement have an API?
No public API is recorded for Guardian Energy Mangement.
What industry is Guardian Energy Mangement in?
Guardian Energy Mangement's product category is Ethanol Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAHAA, Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production, with a secondary code of IMAMALAA, Cellulosic Biofuels & Renewable Fuels (2G ethanol, SAF intermediates). Its NAICS code is 325193 and its SIC code is 2040.