Ethanol fuel in the world
A short history
The first uses of bioethanol fuel date back to the origins of the car. The first Ford Ts coming off the Detroit production lines in 1908 should have run on ethanol, but the abundant supply of cheap oil won out over biofuels. Since the 1973 oil crisis, bioethanol has enjoyed new popularity, thanks to the support of certain governments. Global production has grown strongly over the past few years, for the following reasons:
- oil prices have skyrocketed (from $10 a barrel in 1998 to close to $100 in 2007)
- substantial environmental benefits are expected, mainly because biofuels have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions
- there is a need to improve energy independence and secure energy supplies
- biofuels offer new outlets for agriculture
- biofuels provide a safer substitute for the toxic substances and pollutants associated with petrol.
World situation
With its proactive policy, Brazil has become the world's most advanced country in the use of bioethanol fuel. It produced some 18 billion litres of ethanol (from cane sugar) in 2006, equivalent to 40% of fuel consumption by passenger cars. Flex-fuel vehicles (85% ethanol) represent 80% of all cars sold today. The country intends to double its production by 2015.
In 2006, for the first time, US production overtook Brazil, with 18.6 billion litres obtained almost exclusively from maize.
The emerging countries, such as India or China, are also building stakes in biofuels.
Situation in Europe
In Europe, ethanol started off in France as an ETBE ingredient - an additive used to boost octane levels. Today, it is more common for ethanol to be blended directly with petrol. Germany has become the leading producer with 450 million litres in 2006, ahead of Spain and France. Europe as a whole produced 1.5 billion litres of ethanol in 2006. When it comes to using ethanol, Sweden heads the league tables. All petrol distributed in the country contains 5% bioethanol and the network of service stations supplying E85 (85% ethanol, 15% petrol) is steadily increasing. It will soon exceed the 1000 mark.
Looking ahead
The EU is now backing the use of biofuels and encouraging the Member States to make them more generally available. This is to be achieved primarily through tax relief (France, Spain, Sweden) or by making biofuel blends obligatory (Germany). The minimum objective is to cover 5.75% of the EU’s fuel needs by 2010 and 10% by 2020. Some countries now want more ambitious targets.
Bioethanol could even become the fuel component of fuel cells.
