Greener for Life

Ethanol is an alcohol produced from the fermentation of sugars. Bioethanol is a form of ethanol that is made from cellulose.This is currently sourced from agricultural crops but it is hope that in the near future it will come from others sources such as waste wood, biogas digestate and other fibres, many of which are ending up in landfill. This new generation of bioethanol production will give much greater yields and reduce the dependance on food producing land

In the UK, wheat and sugar beet are the most common crops use currently, maize and sugar cane are primarily used in other countries. As a road fuel it can be used as a direct replacement for petrol, though in practice, bioethanol is blended with petrol to prevent the need for engine modifications.

The benefits of using Bioethanol are:

The current UK situation

With the escalating price and forecasted decline of crude oil reserves, Bioethanol has become a viable renewable fuel source. The introduction of 20 pence per litre discount on Duty and the Government announced ` ' Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation ` ‘ (RTFO) targets for renewable fuel use, has changed the economic incentives. From a renewable fuel inclusion rate of 2.5% in 2008 this will have to rise to at least 5% in 2010.

It is possible to buy fuel in the UK today with 5% bioethanol inclusion but it is not widely available and, at present, nearly all made outside of this country. Imported bioethanol can offer the same guarantee of carbon savings and greenhouse gas reduction as UK production but it may have implications on deforestation and displacement of indigenous populations in the producing countries. For this reason, UK production is likely to be more sustainable and have a greater environmental benefit.

The UK Bioethanol Process

Wheat is ground into small particles to expose the starch. The starch is then separated from the fibre and mixed with water and the enzyme, alpha-amylase, to break down even further. The separated fibre part is high in protein, vitamins and minerals and is used as a valuable animal feed.

The starchy mash is then cooked and a second enzyme, glucoamylase, is added to convert the starch into sugar to be then fermented. Yeast is added which changes the sugar, over a 48 hour period, into alcohol and also produces carbon dioxide.

The alcohol is then vaporised off, condensed and is passed through a dehydration system to remove water. It is then mixed with a small amount of petrol to render unfit for human consumption, a requirement for all fuel grade ethanol.

This is now known as Bioethanol and is ready to be blended at the required levels to petrol.
All engines will run without adaption on a mixture containing 10% Bioethanol (E10) and several vehicle manufacturers are producing vehicles that can use 85% Bioethanol (E85).

The carbon dioxide is collected, purified, compressed and can then be used in the food and drinks industry.

The leftover material from bioethanol production is a product known as distiller’s grains. This is an animal feed high in protein content and of great use in the production of livestock and milk, reducing or replacing the need for imported soya proteins which are currently being used.

Bioethanol and the Environment

Bioethanol has a higher octane level than petrol which means that it produces more power. It contains more oxygen and burns cleaner at a lower engine temperature which will help increase engine life. It produces fewer harmful emissions, is non toxic and is biodegradable breaking down quickly into harmless substances if spilled.

Bioethanol reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and because it is made from a crop that absorbs carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen it will thus reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

By harnessing nature’s carbon cycle we are helping to keep CO2 levels in the atmosphere in balance.

By growing crops to produce bioethanol we are creating more sustainable travel, we are helping the economy and helping the environment.