• The renewable content of petrol to double
• E10 – petrol with 10% bioethanol now replaces the previous main grade of fuel (E5 95 octane).
• Carbon savings equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road instantly achieved
• Jobs protected in the North East, domestic market for feed wheat secured and UK to import less soy-based animal feed
Since 2016 cars have been optimised to run on E10, and as of 1st September this year, the UK will join the many other countries supplying it [1].
Over 95% of all petrol vehicles are compatible with E10, and the few that are not can use E5 petrol in the ‘Super’ grade. Motorists should use the Government’s free online E10 checker to see if their vehicle is compatible [2]. If they are unsure of the year of manufacture or detail of model of older cars, they also access this same information via inputting their numberplate [3].
Bioethanol is produced primarily from feed wheat, which is high in starch and low in protein, and can’t be used for milling to make bread biscuits or food for human consumption.
The process of making bioethanol turns the starch into alcohol, and leaves the protein behind. The spent grain, is a high protein animal feed and is the only significant source of high protein animal feed produced in the UK. This reduces the requirement for imported, soy-based animal feed, which typically comes from South America, and has a high carbon footprint.
Grant Pearson, chairman of the RTFA and Commercial Director of Ensus said:
“Global greenhouse gas emissions need to plummet fast, and the swiftest way of bringing transport emissions down is switching to renewable fuels. This is a step in the right direction, but there’s plenty more to be done. Increasing the renewable content of retail diesel up from 7% to 10% is on the cards in Europe, and is a logical next step. Higher blends of both petrol and diesel should be incentivised for commercial fleets and the benefits of range extending battery vehicles with 100% renewable fuels should not be overlooked by Government policies, and nor should biomethane for trucks. The change to electrification is welcome, but will take time and we can’t afford to simply wait until today’s vehicles are replaced.”
/ends
Notes to editors
The countries currently supplying E10 include:
Europe: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia.
Other countries and US States: Australia, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, California , Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Washington, Thailand.
Brazil and Paraguay have 18 – 27% bioethanol blends.
France consumers more bioethanol in its E15 (15% fuel) than it does in its E10 grade.
ED95 is an ethanol-based fuel for lorries and buses with modified diesel engines. It consists of approx. 95 per cent ethanol and function-enhancing additives.
[2] Government fuel checker www.gov.uk/E10checker
[3] www.Zemo.org.uk/E10checker
