Fully-renewable ethanol could be the solution to overcoming fossil fuel objections.
A technological breakthrough by French-based Global Bioenergies may help to overcome existing "blend wall" limits for biofuel production. The caps currently imposed by most countries worldwide are due to the use of a fossil-based isobutene in combination with a renewable ethanol to create ethyl-tert-butyl ether (ETBE) as part of the production process.
Now Global Bioenergies has found a fully-renewable solution to producing ETBE which, according the company, could increase the amount of renewable energy in gasoline by almost three times. Currently, because of "blend wall" limits, a maximum addition of 23% ETBE is allowed in vehicle fuels - equating to a market worth around €2bn ($2.1bn).
According to Bernard Chaud, Head of Industrial Strategy at Global Bioenergies: "Fuels like 95-octane and 98-octane unleaded gasoline are blends of several types of fuels with different properties. Introducing new biofuels with very similar properties to gasoline components will increase the portion of renewable energy, while also complying with current standards. It is vital to prepare for the depletion of fossil resources and to act now to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere."
Despite the positive environmental news, the increase in biofuels may not be such good news for the lubricants industry according to the latest research from TMR.