Europe to increase steadily the use of biofuels
According to data provided by the Association of Producers of Renewable Energies (APPA), Europe is stablishing a steady increase of the use of biofuels at gas and diesel pumps. For 2008, France will lead the use of biofuels in Europe by adding a mandatory 5.75 percent ethanol to gasoline and the same amount for biodiesel into diesel. Sweden blends 5 percent ethanol in all gasolines, keeping the biodiesel off so far.
After the two leading countries, Italy adds between 2.5 and 3 percent in both fuels, whereas Germany adds a 2 percent of ethanol into gasoline and a 4.4 percent of biodiesel. Spain is introducing legislation to use 1.8 percent although it won't be made mandatory for the first year.
For 2009, the percentages will be increased. France will add 6.25 percent, Sweden will make the 5 percent a minimum, Italy will increase to a 4 percent. Other countries will join the list, such as the Netherlands, with a 3 to 4.5 percent to be added. Germany will introduce a 2.5 to 6.2 percent of ethanol and 4.4 to 6.2 percent into diesel. Spain will add ethanol to 3.4 percent and 5.83 for biodiesel.
The European Union is currently promoting the use of biofuels and current legislation states a target use of 5.75 percent for 2010 and 10 percent in 2020. Outside the EU, countries such as the US and Brazil have been using biofuels for a longer time. Brazil will use a 23-25 percent of ethanol in gasoline and 2 percent in diesel, where in the US only ethanol is to be added to gasoline: 3.8 percent for 2008, 4.3 percent for 2009 and 4.8 percent in 2010.
[Source: Eleconomista.es via Econoticias]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hun Boon 8:10PM (6/13/2007)
I'm from Singapore, and Malaysia just next door is a huge producer of palm oil. This bio-fuel boom in Europe is causing many farmers to switch to growing oil palm instead.
There are growing concerns about the impact of monoculture on the environment, and how over-specialisation could increase their vulnerability to any policy shift in Europe.
Hun Boon
http://starbamboo.wordpress.com/
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Nate Anders 3:14PM (7/31/2007)
I've read some things about Europe blending in a small amount of ethanol into diesel fuel. Does anyone at your organization have any information on this? Or is that just some heresay? The point makes sense to me because the article stated that the two substances had similiar combustion tempersures. ???
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