The Government has announced that it will mandate the introduction of E10 fuel, petrol containing up to 10% of sustainable bioethanol, from September this year.
The UK will join many other countries across the world in using this fuel.
The UK has three bioethanol production facilities, Ensus, British Sugar and Vivergo which ceased production in September 2018. Following this news AB Sugar has announced its intention to re-start operations at Vivergo.
Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the Renewable Transport Fuel Association said
“There aren’t many opportunities for the UK to reduce its GHG emissions almost instantly, most take significant time and investment. Introducing E10 is an exception, in that it can reduce carbon emissions from petrol cars almost overnight.
The British Bioethanol industry contributes so much to the UK economy. It supports thousands of jobs both directly and in the supply chain, and as well as providing clean fuel, it produces an animal feed by-product. It offers farmers a market for lower-grade wheat that can’t be used for milling and a local source of protein feed, meaning less soy-based feed needs to be imported from South America.”
Bioethanol is particularly important to the economy of the North East, and many of its MPs have been particularly active in supporting the industry in its call for E10.
Grant Pearson, Chair of the RTFA, said
“I would like to thank the excellent work of the members of All Party Parliamentary Group for British Bioethanol in particularly the Co-Chairs and Secretary, Dehenna Davison MP, Matt Vickers MP and Jacob Young MP, who have worked tirelessly to introduce the greener E10 fuel which will give real support to important North East business and its employees.”
