What is Bioethanol?

A biofuel is a fuel made from biomass - organic material, such as wheat or rapeseed - which contains stored energy from the sun in the form of chemical energy. This stored chemical energy is then converted into a liquid fuel called a biofuel. Biofuels are blended with conventional fossil fuels, and can produce significant environmental benefits by reducing CO2 emissions.

Fuel quality standards specify the maximum amounts of biofuels to be blended in road transport fuels in order to ensure compatibility with standard vehicles’ fuel performance, engine components and fuel systems. Higher blends can be used in specific applications when vehicles have been specifically designed or modified to use them (e.g. Flex Fuel vehicles).

The proportion of biofuels currently blended with conventional fossil fuels varies from country to country, dependant on governmental legislation and car manufacturer advice.

Bioethanol

Bioethanol is produced using fermentation of starches and sugars from crops such as sugar beet and wheat. Bioethanol is already mixed with petrol in the UK and sold at a number of filling stations around the country. Some car manufacturers also sell models that are adapted slightly to enable them to run on gasoline made with up to 85% ethanol (E85). These flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) are already popular in other countries such as Brazil and Sweden. Some UK filling stations are now selling high blend ethanol fuel (E85) and the UK Government supports environmentally friendly transport.