Bioethanol

DEFINITION: An alcohol fuel produced in a sugar fermentation process from plants such as sugar cane or maize. Bioethanol can be used directly in a fuel cell to produce electricity, and is seen as a sustainable alternative energy source to gasoline. 

See also: Biofuel

See also: Biogas

Related items

Biogas trials have been conducted by Wyke Farms tractors, but range is still an issue

Political barriers hampering onsite biodiesel production

EXCLUSIVE: Biomethane generated from food and drinks process residues is emerging as a viable low-carbon alternative to diesel used in commercial vehicles, but a lack of political clarity has left the food sector "scratching the surface" of a potential closed-loop, onsite fuel system.
Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations order, biofuel must be blended into petrol and diesel in the UK today at a rate of 4.75%

Biofuels needed but some more polluting than fossil fuels, report warns

Biofuel use needs to increase to help fight climate change as liquid fuels will be needed by aircraft and ships for many decades to come, finds a new report requested by the UK government.
While poultry litter biomass has received a boost across the country, using ground coffee waste for a similar purpose is expanding outside of London

Coffee grounds and poultry litter proving a viable biomass option in the UK

As innovative waste coffee recycling firm bio-beans expands its collection service across the University of Birmingham, the UK Government has revealed that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants using poultry litter will receive the highest tariffs under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Waitrose rolls out Europe's first 500-mile biomethane trucks

As part of an ongoing transition towards alternatively- fuelled trucks and lower fleet emissions, Waitrose has spent the early months of 2017 trialling Europe’s first 500-mile biomethane trucks, with plans to scale-up the project over the coming years.

In practice: Costa's new low-carbon coffee roastery

What makes Costa Coffee’s new £38m roastery in Basildon "one of the most sustainable buildings in the world"? This free case study provides an overview of all the low-carbon and resource-efficient features of the retailer's flagship sustainability project.
The five-year project will see SEAT provide CNG vehicles to test the new fuels over a total test run distance of 120,000km

Breakthroughs for biofuel in aviation and transport sectors

Car manufacturer SEAT has provided insight into its innovative project that turns wastewater into a biomethane fuel capable of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% compared to traditional vehicles, while NASA has released data on the viability on using biofuels in jet engines.
Around 2,500 commercial flights have now taken place using some amount of biofuels

EU sees 'strategic advantage' of biofuels in aviation

In sectors like aviation where decarbonisation options are limited, there is a strategic advantage in encouraging the use of biofuels, a European Commission official has said.
First Mile's chief commercial officer Joe Allen (left) and Caffè Nero's commercial director Matt Spencer (right) are pleased by the success of the ongoing partnership

Caffé Nero reports coffee-waste-to-biofuel success, plans expansion

Italian-style coffee shop chain Caffé Nero is looking to extend an innovative coffee-to-biofuel recycling scheme beyond greater London after a successful partnership with recycling company First Mile and technology firm Bio-Bean.
PwC currently recycles or reuses around 85% of the waste it produces, generating £500,000 for the firm annually in the process

Going Circular: PwC's staff engagement success story

As part of edie's engagement month of editorial content, Matt Mace takes a closer look at the innovative behaviour change approaches being adopted by PwC as the professional services firm seeks to mobilise waste reduction efforts of thousands of staff members to deliver a closed-loop organisation.
Birmingham Town Hall. A series of workshops will provide Midlands businesses with specialist expertise about advanced thermal technologies and biological conversion processes

UK businesses to accelerate bioenergy opportunities through EU grant

A European Union (EU) funded project is set to support firms across the West Midlands to reap the economic and environmental benefits from bioenergy and thermal technologies.
Heathrow Airport's chief executive John Holland-Kaye gave this speech on day two of edie’s Sustainability Leaders Forum

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye speech: 'Airport expansion a model for sustainable growth'

Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye took to the stage at edie's Sustainability Leaders Forum this week to announce that all of the Airport's energy usage will be generated from renewable sources within the next few months, ahead of its controversial expansion. Here's a full transcript of his speech.
The industry claims that ethanol produced in Europe has 64% greenhouse gas (GHG) higher savings compared to petrol, which is equivalent to the annual GHG emissions of 4 million cars

EU risks missing climate goals without 'sustainable' biofuels, experts warn

The European Commission's proposal to gradually phase out "sustainable" first generation biofuels will prevent the EU from meeting its 2030 climate goals, experts claim.
Transport Minister John Hayes indicated that the Government will support greater integration of biofuels into the UK’s transport energy mix to complement the growth of EVs

Government unveils £20m funding for low-carbon freight projects

The UK Government has unveiled £20m investment for firms developing low-carbon vehicle projects as part of an overarching plan for all new cars and vans to be zero-emission by 2040.
Bio-bean became the first company in the world to industrialise the process of recycling waste coffee into biofuel in 2012

Costa partners with Bio-bean to convert 3,000 tonnes of coffee waste to biofuel

The UK's largest coffee chain Costa has entered into a partnership with biomass recycling firm Bio-bean, which will see 3,000 tonnes of Costa's waste coffee grounds used as biofuel.
The situation is balanced on a knife edge. We must come up with clear action plans and turn top-line guidance into a real framework for collective action

Climate action in a post-Trump world: game over or business as usual?

As part of edie's Sustainability Leadership Month of editorial content, Grosvenor's group sustainability director Kate Brown has penned this exclusive opinion piece, explaining the need for businesses to develop clear action plans and drive forward with sustainability leadership, regardless of the turbulent political backdrop.
DfT confirmed details of the new £390m funding for future transport technology, and outlined several proposals to develop renewable fuels in aviation

Government prepares for green transport revolution with EV and sustainable aviation frameworks

British transport is set for a significant low-carbon boost with several new Government consultations and funding schemed announced over the past few days in a bid to drive a green transport overhaul.
CNG gas engines meet the latest Euro-6 air quality standards and are roughly 50% quieter than diesel engines

UK retailers pioneer ground-breaking biomethane transport fuel

A host of British retailers including Waitrose, John Lewis and Argos have been named as the first long-distance lorry users of a renewable biomethane fuel launched today (1 December), which is said to be 35-40% cheaper and 70% less CO2-emitting than diesel.
Transport is responsible for around a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it the single biggest emitting sector in the continent

Diesel vehicles burnt almost half of Europe's palm oil in 2015

The share of Europe's imported palm oil being used up by diesel cars and trucks has reached an all-time-high, despite further evidence of its harmful environmental effects, according to a new report from an independent industry forecasting group.
BioSNG can be transported through existing natural gas networks to be used in domestic, commercial and industrial heating and CHP applications

Work set to begin on pioneering green-gas-from-waste plant in Swindon

Work is set to begin on a pioneering gas from waste plant in Swindon following the completion of financing.
T&E noted that because these biofuels would count as “zero-emission fuels”, they would make the EU's transport emissions look 478 million tonnes lower than they actually are

Leaked biofuel plan set to increase European transport emissions

A leaked draft of the European Commission's (EC) Renewable Energy Directive (RED) has revealed that a promised phase-out of food-based biodiesels will not be met, with new proposals set to increase European transport emissions by 219 million tonnes by 2030.
The fuel is believed to be the world’s first of its kind produced from forest wood

Alaska Airlines flies first commercial jet powered by forest biomass

Alaska Airline passengers have taken to the skies in a "world-first" commercial flight running on sustainable alternative jet fuel made from forest residuals from the Pacific Northwest.

The process could be retrofitted across 65% of the world’s steel mills, leading to the creation of 15bn gallons of AtJ fuel – representing around 19% of global aviation fuel

Virgin unveils aviation 'game-changer' with alcohol-to-jet fuel

Virgin Atlantic has today (14 September) announced that an innovative partnership with carbon capture company LanzaTech has successfully produced 1,500 gallons of low-carbon, alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) fuel.
One potential method to reduce emissions from shipping is the use of biofuels. The Sustainable Shipping Initiative is already exploring how biofuels could be used as an energy source

European Commission urged to revamp bioenergy and shipping policies

The European Commission has been greeted with across-the-board support from MEPs to include emissions from shipping in the European Union's 2030 emissions reduction target, while non-profits are also calling for improved bioenergy policies.