Time for a European Shift on Renewable Ethanol

by David Carpintero (ePURE) If there’s anything we’ve learned from the last two years of EU climate and energy policy, it’s that Europe needs a new way to think about biofuels and its contribution to transport de-fossilization—as well as the strategic importance of ethanol production. As the EU enters a new political cycle with European Parliament elections and a new Commission in 2024, there is some cause for optimism.

For example, more EU countries have adopted E10 (despite holdouts such as Spain and Italy) and there is growing interest from auto manufacturers in higher ethanol blends like E20. There is also growing interest in using ethanol as a feedstock in the biopolymers industry.

The fact is, ethanol biorefineries across the EU contribute to several European strategic objectives including climate change mitigation; energy independence; food security—food-vs.-fuel concerns being a myth—and increased autonomy with other commercial products like carbon dioxide captured and processed for beverage and industrial applications.

In the coming months, the EU will be trying to clarify its definition of CO2-neutral fuels. That will be important because even with the recent market growth in sales of battery-electric vehicles, the fact is that Europeans continue to buy mostly petrol and hybrid cars. These cars run on liquid fuel and will be on the roads for a long time to come. Low-carbon liquid fuels are the only way to reduce their emissions.

But new cars could also be produced that take better advantage of the existing benefits of biofuels. In France, for example, many motorists use E85 fuel. One study showed that hybrid cars running on E85 are actually more climate-friendly than battery-electric vehicles when total lifecycle emissions are considered. In India, a new flex-fuel hybrid Toyota is being commercialized that can run on 100 percent ethanol, but uses its electric engine 40-60 percent of the time.

A socially inclusive transition to carbon neutrality should empower all European citizens, not just those who can afford new technologies, and all countries, not just those that can afford new infrastructure.

Europe needs more than just one solution to achieve real transport de-fossilization today, and tomorrow, without hitting consumers’ purchasing power or forcing them to abandon their needs and desire for independence and mobility.

In the months ahead, as the political rhetoric around EU energy and climate policy intensifies, we encourage policymakers to adopt this more inclusive and technology-open approach. It’s a win-win-win situation for achieving EU strategic goals, supporting domestic agricultural production and industry, and making sure all Europeans can play a role in the fight against climate change. READ MORE