by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) University of Nebraska Researchers have proven E30 is safe for long-term use in non-flex fuel vehicles. The findings could bolster the push for state- and federal-level low-carbon fuel legislation. Two researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are eager to continue sharing their results from a study that evaluated the impact of E30 in 50 non-flex fuel state fleet vehicles. The results: Nothing.
Over the course of the one-year study, fueling with E30 instead of E15 showed no change in vehicle adaptability, performance, emissions or fuel efficiency. The research was a partnership between the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services and the university to determine long-term usability of E30 in non-flex fuel vehicles.
by Brian Healy (U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) If India realizes its goal of 20% ethanol by 2025, it would be one of the higher blend rates achieved globally, putting India at the forefront of reducing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In January, India announced its intent to move to a 20% ethanol blend by 2025. If realized, this would be one of the higher blend rates achieved globally, putting India at the forefront of reducing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as countries look to greater blends to meet their Paris Agreement commitments. In fact, Prime Minister Modi fast-tracked by five years what would have been a 2030 E20 policy, looking to seize the benefits for India in terms of rural development for their own feedstock producers, the environmental aspects of use and air quality improvements.
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The stalled U.S. EPA approval of corn kernel fiber-to-ethanol pathways could be having a $1 billion impact on a 15-billion-gallon-per-year ethanol industry, says Jim Ramm, director of engineering for EcoEngineers. That’s assuming 3% of overall production could be from fiber and a $2 premium. It’s worst-case scenario, yes, but it’s realistic, nonetheless.
EPA approved its last fiber-to-ethanol pathway in December of 2017. At that time, EPA, led by Administrator Scott Pruitt, outlined concerns around the accuracy in measuring the cellulosic portion of ethanol production. The slammed door has forced ethanol producers to distribute their cellulosic volumes to California or Oregon markets (where fuel standards recognize the pathways), and technology developers to overcome the volume measurement challenge.
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.K. Department for Transport on May 13 released draft legislation to implement the country’s planned adoption of E10. The government in February 2021 confirmed plans to allow E10 following a public consultation opened in March 2020. The U.K. currently allows only 5 percent ethanol in gasoline.
According to the Department for Transport, the switch to E10 will reduce CO2 emissions from gasoline-fueled vehicles by approximately 2 percent. When combined with an increase to overall renewable fuel targets, the government said the move could further reduce carbon dioxide emission by 750,000 metric tons per year, which is the equivalent to taking approximately 350,000 cars off the road.
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm briefly discussed how biofuels will into the U.S. Department of Energy’s priorities under the Biden administration during a House Committee on Appropriations hearing on May 6.
The hearing was held by the Subcommittee on Energy Water Development and Related Agencies to consider the DOE’s fiscal year 2022 budget request.
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Granholm said the agency has a whole biofuels and energy team working on that issue, and stressed the role she thinks biofuels can play in reducing energy-intensive forms of transportation, including long-haul trucking, aviation and marine transport. “Electric vehicles obviously have emerged as this great technology which they are for light duty vehicles like cars and SUVs,” she said. “But pickups, heavy duty transportation modes that really need more of an energy density of liquid fuels, that is where biofuels are going to play a critical role and that’s especially true