Beverage Brewing, Distilling & Fermentation worked example

Distillation Energy Cost at 72% still run share included: a worked example

Suppose still run share included falls to 72%. This page works the full calculation at that level so you can see exactly which result moves and by how much. Estimate distillation energy cost from steam, gas, or electric energy use, blended energy cost, production share, and fixed still run adders.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Distillation energy use per run: 1,850 kWh or therms (held at the documented default)
  • Blended energy cost: 0.09 $ / energy unit (held at the documented default)
  • Still run share included: 72 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Fixed still startup and utility cost: 165 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable distillation energy cost = distillation energy use × blended energy cost × still run share included.
  • Total distillation energy cost works out to 278 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Energy cost per measured unit works out to 0.15 $ / energy unit at these inputs.
  • Variable distillation energy cost works out to 113 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed still startup and utility cost works out to 165 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where still run share included sits at 100% and the headline result is 322 $, this scenario comes in 13.66% below the baseline at 278 $.
  • It computes the total energy cost of a distillation run by multiplying metered energy use by the blended rate and run share, then adding fixed still startup and utility cost. When the numbers land here, the stressed input is the lever to work; the walkthrough above shows exactly how much each output recovers as it climbs back toward the baseline.

Results at a glance

  • Total distillation energy cost: 278 $ (headline result)
  • Energy cost per measured unit: 0.15 $ / energy unit
  • Variable distillation energy cost: 113 $
  • Fixed still startup and utility cost: 165 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Distillation Energy Cost calculator, set still run share included to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.