Bioethanol

How is it made?

Bioethanol is simply pure alcohol, created from crops rich in starch or sugar by fermentation, distillation and finally dehydration¹.

How can I use it?

Bioethanol can be blended with petrol in varying proportions, or used pure as a petrol substitute. Most cars designed to run on petrol can burn a blend of up to 10% bioethanol without any modifications². However, only blends up to 5% meet European quality standards and greater strengths are not generally covered by manufacturers’ warranties³.

To use blends greater than about 10% bioethanol will require minor engine modifications. In the future we are likely to see more models able to run on high strength bioethanol, but at present only Ford and Saab sell these vehicles in Britain . [4]

Where can I buy it?

A lot of petrol sold in Britain already contains 5% bioethanol, although it is rarely labelled⁵. There are a few filling stations in Britain where it is now possible to buy E85 (85% bioethanol), but these are currently limited to East Anglia and Somerset .

¹ Source 1: Pearce, F. (2006), “Fuels Gold”, New Scientist 23/9/06 , pp.36-41.

² Source 2: Energy Saving Trust (2006), Bioethanol.

³ Source: Pearce, F. (2006), “Fuels Gold”, New Scientist 23/9/06 , pp.36-41

⁴ Source: Defra (2003), The facts on Biodiesel and Bioethanol.

⁵ Source: Energy Savings Trust (2006), Where can I buy a flex-fuel bioethanol car or van.