Guardian Energy
Guardian Energy is a privately held, multi-plant U.S. ethanol producer that processes 50 million bushels of corn annually across four Midwest facilities into ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, DDGS animal feed, and corn oil for fuel blenders, livestock producers, and biofuel buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersJanesville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Guardian Energy does
Guardian Energy is a privately held, multi-plant U.S. ethanol producer that converts corn into renewable fuel and co-products. The company operates four Midwest facilities — Hankinson (ND), Janesville (MN), Lima (OH), and a marketing office in Shakopee (MN) — plus its headquarters in Prior Lake, MN, and processes approximately 50 million bushels of corn annually. Its output includes 150 million gallons of corn-starch ethanol, 4 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol from corn kernel fiber, 338,000 tons of Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) animal feed, and 46 million pounds of distillers corn oil. Guardian states it operates in the top quartile of U.S. ethanol plants in yields and efficiencies, and the business model is rooted in commodity B2B sales of fuel, feed, and oil into the renewable fuels and animal nutrition value chains.
The company was founded in 2009 from a community of farmer-owned ethanol cooperatives, which still supply its corn input, and it sells to fuel blenders and distributors (for E10/E15/E85 blending), livestock producers, animal feed companies, and biofuel/industrial buyers. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-based, with a dedicated Renewable Products Marketing Group handling commercial activity. The company is a member of three principal U.S. ethanol industry trade associations — the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition of Ethanol, and Growth Energy — reflecting an active role in the policy and regulatory environment that underpins renewable fuel demand. No revenue, funding, M&A, or headcount growth data is disclosed in the available sources, and there is no public indication of equity capital raises or institutional backing; the company appears to operate as an independent, cooperatively-rooted commodity producer.
Guardian Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Guardian Energy
- Legal name
- Guardian Energy
- Website
- https://hankinsonre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Guardian Energy is a privately held, multi-plant U.S. ethanol producer that processes 50 million bushels of corn annually across four Midwest facilities into ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, DDGS animal feed, and corn oil for fuel blenders, livestock producers, and biofuel buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Guardian Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biofuel Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing (325193)
- SIC
- Grain Mill Products (2040)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cellulosic Biofuels & Renewable Fuels (2G ethanol, SAF intermediates) (IMAMALAA)
Keywords
Where Guardian Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Janesville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Guardian Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ethanol Sales: Produces and sells corn starch-based ethanol (150 million gallons annually) and cellulosic ethanol (4 million gallons annually) to fuel blenders and distributors for gasoline blends such as E10, E15, and E85.
- DDGS Sales: Produces and sells Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (338,000 tons annually) as animal feed ingredient for hogs, poultry, and cattle.
- Corn Oil Sales: Produces and sells distillers corn oil (46 million pounds annually) for biofuel feedstocks, animal nutrition, and industrial applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
Guardian Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Guardian Energy produces and sells corn-based ethanol (150 million gallons of corn starch ethanol and 4 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually), Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles/DDGS animal feed (338,000 tons annually), and distillers corn oil (46 million pounds annually). The company processes 50 million bushels of locally grown corn each year across its Midwest production facilities in Hankinson, ND; Janesville, MN; and Lima, OH, with a headquarters and Renewable Products Marketing Group based in the Minneapolis/Shakopee, MN area.
Product overview
Guardian Energy is a multi-plant ethanol production group operating as a platform of processing facilities. The core portfolio includes four main products derived from corn processing: corn starch-based ethanol (150 million gallons), cellulosic ethanol from corn fiber (4 million gallons), Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) animal feed (338,000 tons), and corn oil (46 million pounds). The company processes 50 million bushels of corn annually across its facilities to produce renewable fuels and animal feed co-products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ethanol (Corn Starch Based)
Quantifiable outcome
- 150 million gallons of ethanol produced annually reduces vehicle emissions and increases energy independence
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Guardian Energy
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Guardian Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Guardian Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Renewable Fuels AssociationcoreIndustry trade association representing ethanol producers. Guardian Energy is a member benefiting from industry advocacy, policy support, and networking within the renewable fuels sector.
- American Coalition of EthanolcoreIndustry trade association focused on ethanol policy and market development. Membership provides access to industry resources, regulatory advocacy, and collaboration on ethanol market expansion.
- Growth EnergycoreTrade association working to expand renewable fuel markets. Guardian Energy benefits from advocacy efforts, market development initiatives, and policy support for ethanol adoption.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Guardian Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Global agribusiness giant with significant corn processing and ethanol production capacity. Competes with Guardian for corn procurement and downstream ethanol/DDGS buyers, but ethanol is one segment within a much larger portfolio.
- Flint Hills Resources: Koch Industries subsidiary operating corn ethanol plants in Iowa and Nebraska plus petroleum refining. Direct competitor in ethanol production but ethanol sits within a broader fuels and chemicals portfolio.
- Cargill: One of the largest private agribusinesses globally with corn origination, ethanol production, and animal nutrition businesses. Competes with Guardian across the corn-to-ethanol-and-DDGS value chain but as part of a much larger integrated platform.
- Valero: Major U.S. petroleum refiner with a sizeable renewable fuels/ethanol plant network that produces corn ethanol for its own blending operations. Competes in ethanol supply but ethanol is a side business to a refining giant.
Direct peers
- Alto Ingredients: Mid-tier West/Midwest ethanol producer (formerly Pacific Ethanol) producing corn ethanol, DDGS, and corn oil. Closely comparable on product mix and scale tier, though more geographically diversified into California.
- POET: The largest U.S. ethanol producer with multi-billion-gallon annual capacity across a Midwest plant network, producing corn-starch ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, and DDGS. Closest comparable by product mix, geography, and multi-plant platform model.
- REX American Resources: Holding company that owns and operates a portfolio of corn ethanol plants across the Midwest, including co-location with DDGS and corn oil. Comparable in scale tier and product mix, and the closest public-market comparable for a multi-plant ethanol platform.
- Green Plains Partners: Multi-plant U.S. ethanol producer with comparable product slate (corn ethanol, DDGS, corn oil) and similar focus on operational efficiency and value-added co-products. Highly comparable scale-down peer with overlapping Midwest geography.
- Marquis Energy: Illinois-based corn ethanol producer operating a sizable single-site plant with DDGS and corn oil co-products, plus a renewable hydrogen subsidiary. Closely comparable in product mix and Midwest positioning though at smaller scale than Guardian.
Emerging players
- Aemetis: California-based renewable fuels company focused on low-carbon ethanol (cellulosic pathways), renewable diesel, and biogas. Partial overlap with Guardian's cellulosic and low-carbon positioning but more developmental and geographically focused on California LCFS markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Guardian Energy social profiles
Digital presenceGuardian Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Guardian Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Guardian Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Guardian Energy 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
What does Guardian Energy do?
Guardian Energy produces and sells corn-based ethanol (150 million gallons of corn starch ethanol and 4 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually), Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles/DDGS animal feed (338,000 tons annually), and distillers corn oil (46 million pounds annually). The company processes 50 million bushels of locally grown corn each year across its Midwest production facilities in Hankinson, ND; Janesville, MN; and Lima, OH, with a headquarters and Renewable Products Marketing Group based in the Minneapolis/Shakopee, MN area.
Is Guardian Energy a public or private company?
Guardian Energy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Guardian Energy founded?
Guardian Energy was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Guardian Energy based?
Guardian Energy is headquartered in Janesville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Guardian Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ethanol Sales are the primary driver. The others are DDGS Sales and corn Oil Sales.
Who are Guardian Energy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Flint Hills Resources, Cargill and Valero. Direct peers are Alto Ingredients, POET, REX American Resources, Green Plains Partners and Marquis Energy. Aemetis is listed as an emerging player.
Does Guardian Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Guardian Energy.
What industry is Guardian Energy in?
Guardian Energy's product category is Biofuel Manufacturing. 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.