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Click on the diagrams for bigger versions.
Corn consumption in the EU 2006/2007 (in percent)
Wheat consumption in the EU 2006/2007 (in mio tonnes)
Corn consumption in the U.S. 2006/2007 (in percent)
Bought ethanol carsMonthly
Total
Total
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Welcome to the BioAlcohol Fuel FoundationNews
Lean, green and not mean
July 1, 2008 - Published in The Economist The United States may drop a tariff on Brazilian ethanol. But the industry is still the victim of much misplaced criticism
The growing dilemma of the production of biofuels and their human costs
June 30, 2008 - Published in The Irish Times Are biofuels the answer to ever-rising fuel prices, or are they a part of a greater problem of land and food? Paddy Comyn went to Gothenburg to hear the arguments
Brazil signs deal to export sustainable ethanol
June 30, 2008 - Published in Reuters SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A group of Brazilian ethanol companies signed a deal to export certified sustainable ethanol to Sweden, in the world's first agreement of such a kind, they said on Wednesday.
FACTBOX -"Next gen" cellulosic ethanol hopefuls
June 18, 2008 - Published in Reuters June 17 (Reuters) - As oil prices hit record levels, many companies hope to make "next generation" biofuels from grasses and trees because ethanol and biodiesel from grains and beans are blamed for helping to boost food prices.
Legislative push for flex-fuel vehicles
June 18, 2008 - Published in MarketWatch 'There is nothing more important that faces the American public right now' than energy prices, Brownback, R-Kansas, said at a hearing on oil markets in Washington,...
Biofuels: Brazil disputes cost of sugar in the tank
June 10, 2008 - Published in Guardian With oil prices close to $140 a barrel, Brazil thought its time in the economic sun had arrived, given its claims that using ethanol can cut carbon emissions by 90% on a life-cycle analysis.
New, "better" biofuels are no magic bullet
June 9, 2008 - Published in Reuters Better biofuels are a mantra for many leaders at the 151-nation June 3-5 summit. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said developing them should be an "absolute priority". And the summit is considering a draft declaration that would urge more research into non-food biofuel crops, such as jatropha trees, and "second-generation technologies ... which are focused on cellulose from stalks and leaves rather than food sources".
$45 trillion urged in battling carbon emissions
June 9, 2008 - Published in Herald Tribune
In one of the strongest warnings so far about the world's thirst for energy, the International Energy Agency said Friday that investment totaling $45 trillion might be needed over the next half-century to prevent energy shortages and greenhouse gas emissions from undermining global economic growth.
In Brazil, sugar-cane ethanol is booming
June 2, 2008 - Published in Miami Herald ORINDIUVA, Brazil -- Just a decade ago, the giant Moema ethanol and sugar mill in this corner of southeastern Brazil covered less than half of its current 173,000 acres. It produced mainly sugar. That was before world petroleum prices skyrocketed and millions of Brazilians turned to cheaper sugar cane-based ethanol to fuel their vehicles. Now, fuels made from sugar cane have become Brazil's second most-used energy source...
Ethanol: A basket of opportunities for India
May 28, 2008 - Published in commodityonline.com Sudden rush in crude oil prices touching the new highs day on day has influenced the decision of most countries? governments to search for the alternatives. Also considering the important reason behind such rise in crude oil prices (it touched the high of $119 per barrel), apart from weakness in dollar, i.e. the future forecast of incapability of supply side of oil to fulfill the demand for oil countries can be said as being forced to shift towar…
First Company in the World to Supply Verified Sustainable Ethanol
May 28, 2008 - Published in azocleantech.com Swedish SEKAB today announced that it is the first company in the world to supply verified sustainable ethanol. This ethanol from Brazilian sugarcane is quality assured from environmental, climate and social perspectives.
U.S. Experts Say Biofuels Have a Minimal Impact on Food Prices
May 22, 2008 - Published in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy With global food prices rising rapidly, the chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers and the Secretary of Agriculture have both emphasized recently that the production of ethanol from corn has had little impact on food prices. In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 14, Edward Lazear, the chairman of the President's Council on Economic Advisers, concluded that corn ethanol is only responsible for about 3%…
The market sets high oil prices to tell us what to do
May 18, 2008 - Published in FT.com Oil at $200 a barrel: that was the warning from Goldman Sachs, published last week. The real price is already at an all-time high (see chart). At $200 it would be twice as high as it was in any previous spike. Even so, it would be a mistake to focus in shock only on the short-term jump in prices. The bigger issues are longer term.
Food versus fuel debate not so simple, says IUCN
May 12, 2008 - Published in iucn.org The debate currently raging about the global food crisis and whether biofuels are to blame for it is far more complex than it first appears.
Keeping the crop in hand
May 8, 2008 - Published in The Guardian By imposing rigorous sustainability standards, we can make a global market in biofuels work
'Biofuels frenzy' fuels global food crisis, say experts
April 30, 2008 - Published in INQUIRER.net WASHINGTON ? A "biofuels frenzy," and other misguided policies have led to the global food crisis in which rice consumption is outpacing production, threatening a billion people with malnutrition, experts said Tuesday.
Bring on the Right Biofuels
April 24, 2008 - Published in The New York Times Fads come fast and furious in our viral age, and the reactions to them can be equally ferocious. That?s what we?re seeing right now with biofuels, which everyone loved until everyone decided they were the worst thing since the Black Death.
Cellulosic ethanol to surpass corn...in 14 years
April 23, 2008 - Published in News.com
MENLO PARK, Calif.--It's going to take nearly a decade and a half, but cellulosic ethanol will overtake corn ethanol, according to an enzyme maker.
UK: Fiat tops for low CO2
April 23, 2008 - Published in Just.auto
Fiat tops the volume-weighted European average league for CO2 emissions at 137.3g/km and the top six manufacturers are now below 150g/km, according to UK analysts Jato Dynamics.
Brazil rejects biofuels criticism
April 17, 2008 - Published in The Guardian The Brazilian president has rejected criticism that his country's production of biofuels has forced a surge in global food prices and harms the environment. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused critics of being driven by economic and political interests, and failing to highlight soaring oil prices and increased demand as a factor in pushing up food production costs.
Brazil: Biofuels are not at the root of hunger crisis
April 17, 2008 - Published in Washington Post BRASILIA, Brazil -- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made an impassioned defense of biofuels, denying that their production contributes to food scarcity and rising global...
Brazil: Sugar-Ethanol industry vows to replace diesel
April 17, 2008 - Published in Gazeta Mercantil, Brasilians dagstidning Brazil's sugar-ethanol industry has made a vow to replace diesel with ethanol in its fleet of lorries and farming equipment in Brazil. Swedish firm Scania knows about the sector's interest in ethanol-diesel engines and is working to create one. Case IH is having talks with that firm and Cummins to carry out tests on a sugarcane harvester equipped with an ethanol-run engine for this harvest. Replacing diesel with ethanol will make the industry mor…
Sekab says cellulosic ethanol on track in Sweden within five years
April 17, 2008 - Published in FO Licht Agra-net Swedish ethanol producer Sekab said it is on the track to deliver its first commercial cellulosic ethanol in 2012 or 2013. The company plans to start building its first, second-stage Industrial Development plant in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, at the end of this year, Anders Fredriksson, deputy manager of Sekab Biofuels & Chemicals told Swedish farmers´ weekly ATL.
World premiere for Scanias first ethanol-powered trucks - rapid transition to sustainable urban transport
April 15, 2008 - Published in scania.com After nearly 20 years as a supplier of ethanol buses, Scania is now broadening its range of ethanol-powered vehicles for urban traffic. Today the company?s first ethanol trucks are being unveiled to international trade journalists, who are test-driving the trucks in Södertälje. Starting next year, this will enable hauliers, authorities and municipalities to run both passenger and goods transport on the same renewable fuel.
Biofuels combat climate change
April 14, 2008 - Published in Financial Times Biofuels must be added to transport fuel to combat climate change, and fears over their environmental value and influence on food prices should not discourage the government from ordering an increase in their use, a group of leading agricultural scientists said on Friday.
Kikwete warns on bio-fuel danger
April 14, 2008 - Published in Guardian Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete, who also serves as AU chairman, has urged the international community to take precautionary measures to avert the danger of reduced food production when looking for alternative sources of energy, particularly bio-fuel.
End of the world as we know it
April 11, 2008 - Published in The Arizona Republic You might feel fine, but high oil cost, scarcity mean American Empire is about to come crashing down. Peak oil spells the end of civilization. And, if it's not already too late, perhaps it will prevent the extinction of our species.
Indian ethanol output faces hurdles -Reuters
March 19, 2008 - Published in Guardian Unlimited Network GENEVA, March 19 (Reuters) - India has potential to expand its ethanol biofuel production using its vast sugar cane resources, but many challenges lie ahead, delegates at a conference said on...
Worldwide cellulosic ethanol production in 2020 at least 16.5 billion gallons
March 17, 2008 - Published in Ethanol statistics The worldwide production of cellulosic ethanol will amount to at least 16.5 billion gallons in 2020, if the targets set in the United States, China, Europe, Japan and Brazil are achieved.
Ethanol by the Numbers
February 25, 2008 - Published in The New York Times Even those who regard ethanol as the holy grail of energy policy concede that there is a right way and a wrong way to produce it. Done right, ethanol could help wean the country from its dependence on foreign oil while reducing the emissions that contribute to climate change. Done wrong, ethanol could wreak havoc on the environment while increasing greenhouse gases.
M&G invest 100 million Euro in Europe´s largest cellulosic ethanol plant
February 19, 2008 - Published in Biopact Italian chemical group Mossi & Ghisolfi (M&G) plans to build a 200,000-tonne ethanol plant and convert it to using cellulose feedstock to make next-generation biofuels.
Response to February 7, 2008 Sciencexpress Article
February 17, 2008 - Published in Argonne National Laboratory The article by Searchinger et al. in Sciencexpress ("Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases through Emissions from Land Use Change," February 7, 2008) provides a timely discussion of fuel ethanol's effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when taking into account GHG emissions from potential land use changes induced by ethanol production.
Teréos Sees Opportunities Despite Wheat and Sugar Prices
February 6, 2008 - Published in Ethanol Statistics AMSTERDAM ? In December last year, wheat prices rose above $10 per bushel for the first time, as dry weather threatened crops in Argentina, adding to concern that the world's farmers may not be able to grow enough to meet demand for bread, pasta and livestock feed. The price of wheat has more than doubled in the past year as drought reduced output from Australia to Canada. Raw sugar prices on the other hand have fallen by more than 15% this year …
Teréos: European ethanol market share max. 20% on ?domestic feedstock? in 2030
February 6, 2008 - Published in Ethanol Statistics ?In my opinion the maximum amount of ethanol that can be produced with European feedstock in 2030 is about 30 Million tons/year, which corresponds to 20% of today?s gasoline consumption and would include both first and second generation.? That is what Bernard Chaud, Director of biofuels projects at Teréos, says in an interview with Ethanol Statistics.
Exxon shatters profit records
February 4, 2008 - Published in CNNMoney.com NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Exxon Mobil made history on Friday by reporting the highest quarterly and annual profits ever for a U.S. company, boosted in large part by soaring crude prices.
Brazil's Green Energy Revolution
January 29, 2008 - Published in Ethanol Statistics With nearly half of all its energy produced from renewable sources, Brazil has one of the world?s cleanest energy matrixes. Sugarcane stands out as the country?s second most utilized source of green energy, slightly behind hydroelectricity. Today, sugarcane is processed to generate food, feed and energy in modern integrated bio-refineries that produce sugar, alcohol, fuel ethanol, bioelectricity and in the near future, bioplastics.
Sugarcane Waste Could Supply 15% of Brazilian Electricity Demand by 2015
January 29, 2008 - Published in Ethanol Statistics Sugarcane waste biomass, called bagasse, could supply 15% of the Brazilian electricity demand by 2015, equivalent to 11.5 million megawatts. That is what Marcos Jank, President of the Brazilian sugar and ethanol industry association UNICA, says in his monthly market commentary at Ethanol Statistics.
Brazilian Ethanol and the Displacement of Cattle
January 21, 2008 - Published in Ethanol statestics ROTTERDAM ? The discussion on the sustainability of Brazilian ethanol was off to a fresh start in 2008, at the European Motor BioFuels Forum 2008 in Rotterdam. On the 9th and 10th of January, industry experts once again gathered to discuss various aspects of the growing market for fuel ethanol, specifically in Europe and Brazil. Among the subjects was of course sustainability. Conflicting opinions were expressed about the real contribution of eth…
Ethanol production Brazil is not causing deforestation in the Amazon"
January 21, 2008 - Published in Ethanol statestics ?Ethanol production in Brazil is not causing deforestation in the Amazon region,? says Peter Zuurbier, Associate Professor and Director of the Wageningen UR Latin America Office. According to him, the notion that sugarcane is displacing cattle and soybean production into the Amazon is inaccurate. ?The real problem lies in illegal deforestation and lack of property rights, as around 50 percent of the Amazon region has disputed titles and this is a…
GM's ethanol breakthrough is big news, so why is no-one talking about it?
January 17, 2008 - Published in Autocar.co.uk was deeply impressed a couple of days ago by GM boss Rick Wagoner?s crisp and lucid explanation of the reasons why his mammoth company was announcing it was to take an interest deal with a tiny, start-up company. Coskata, an outfit from Warrenville Illinois, has discovered a quick, efficient process to make ethanol from waste, and I?m disappointed that its breakthrough has not had a bigger impact on the motoring community. It hardly made headline…
An Ethanol Outlook for 2008
January 15, 2008 - Published in Ethanol statistics The beginning of a new year traditionally animates to take stock of the outgoing year and to reflect on chances and challenges the coming year might bring. This is also true for the European bioethanol fuel industry turning the page of a turbulent year 2007: After a head start in form of the encouraging decision of the European Spring Council to introduce a 10% obligation for biofuel use, high hopes have been slightly dampened by soaring raw mate…
Brazil registers over 2 mln biofuel cars in 2007, 85.6 pct of cars sold
January 15, 2008 - Published in Forbes.com
RIO DE JANEIRO (Thomson Financial) - Brazil registered 2.0 mln biofuel cars in 2007, representing 85.6 pct of the cars sold on the Brazilian market last year, the Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Anfavea) said.
GM takes stake in small biofuels firm
January 13, 2008 - Published in BusinessWeek General Motors Corp. said Sunday it has taken an ownership stake and formed a partnership with Coskata Inc., a renewable energy startup company that plans to produce ethanol from agricultural leftovers and municipal and industrial waste.
Nigeria: Ethanol Fuel to Save Country $6.lbn By 2012
January 13, 2008 - Published in All Africa.com he secretary of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association [NCGA] Mr Isaac Sunday Ojonugwa, has said that Ethanol fuel will save Nigeria an importation of kerosene and petrol of over $6.1 billion by 2012, adding that the development of a cassava based ethanol Bio- Fuel Industry will be a significant bonus for any Mrican Nation.
Letter to SvD from Brasilian Sugarcane organisation
December 18, 2007 - Published in Not published The item published in the Sunday, Dec.12 edition of Svenska Dagbladet, titled 'The dirty
US on Defensive at Climate Conference
December 7, 2007 - Published in The Baytown Sun By JOSEPH COLEMAN BALI, Indonesia (AP) -- First Australia won international applause for abandoning the United States and signing a global warming pact Washington has long...
Why are food prices rising?
November 28, 2007 - Published in Financial Time
Food prices have been rising steadily in the past few months and the effects are being felt globally. As agricultural commodities such as wheat and dairy trade at record highs, some governments, such as Russia, are implementing price controls on selected types of bread, cheese, milk, eggs and vegetable oil.
RFA President Expects Accelerated Renewable Fuels Standard to Pass in December
November 26, 2007 - Published in Ethanol statestics Although he thinks that ?Washington is a dysfunctional place right now, in which it is far more easy to stop legislation than to pass legislation,? RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen remains ?pretty optimistic that they (the Senate) will be able to get an energy bill done in December?.
Challenges to both left and right in U.S. on global warming
November 13, 2007 - Published in Herald Tribune
For many years, the battle over what to think and do about human-caused climate change and fossil fuels has been waged mostly as a yelling match between the political and environmental left and the right.
Shell and Codexis expand collaboration to explore new super enzymes for next-generation biofuels
November 12, 2007 - Published in shell.com The development of sustainable biofuel took a step forward today as Royal Dutch Shell plc expanded its collaboration with Codexis Inc. to develop new super enzymes to convert biomass to fuel.
Facts, Myths and Future of Brazilian Ethanol (2)
November 12, 2007 - Published in Ethanol statestics Last month, the first of two articles from Mr. Moreira was published titled ?The facts, myths and future of Brazilian ethanol production?. It addressed displacement of cattle into the Amazon, the sustainability of energy production in general and discussed the most important sustainability criteria, one by one. In this second article, Mr. Moreira explains how Brazil is able to expand its production in a sustainable way, in which areas it can do s…
Matto Gross Do Sul Best Place For Ethanol Expansion In Brazil- José Roberto Moreira
November 12, 2007 - Published in Ethanol statestics According to José Roberto Moreira, President of the Brazilian Biomass User Network, Matto Grosso do Sol is one of the best Brazilian states to expand the production capacity of sugarcane and ethanol.
World Ethanol Industry Speaks Out: Ethanol Key to Energy Security, Environmental Future
November 10, 2007 - Published in marketwire AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - Nov. 8, 2007) - In conjunction with F.O. LICHT'S World Ethanol 2007 conference being held in Amsterdam this week, leaders of the world's largest ethanol production and trade associations issued an unprecedented joint statement on necessity of developing a robust and vibrant renewable biofuels industry around the globe.
Defence Minister steps down to drive in Le...
November 8, 2007 - Published in The Times Lord Drayson, the defence procurement minister, has stepped down from his post to pursue motor racing full time. Uniquely, the 47-year-old peer's decision has been prompted not by scandal or political expediency but the private ambition to win the Le Mans 24 hour...
GM begins producing hybrid transmission systems for 2008
October 30, 2007 - Published in Canton Repository WHITE MARSH, Md. General Motors Corp. started production Monday of its two-mode gas-electric hybrid transmission systems that will debut in the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid sport utility...
Tokyo Motor Show: I have seen the future - and it's fun
October 30, 2007 - Published in The Independent Toyota fought back with the Hi-CT (High Ride City Truck), tall and square, "edgy and urban", a plug-in hybrid with a load deck between the exposed rear wheels. And with the 1/X, Prius-sized but based on such a skeletal carbonfibre structure that it weighs just 420kg and manages with a 500cc, petrol/ethanol-fuelled engine and, again, a plug-in hybrid drive system. A roomy hybrid that weighs a third as much as a Prius ? now that's what I call the f…
Food to eat or to run your car?
October 29, 2007 - Published in IRIN at the UN JOHANNESBURG, 23 October (IRIN) - As oil prices soar and biofuel production becomes more attractive, especially to poor countries, a debate is raging over its possible impact on food security.
Presidential Candidates' state their views on Energy
October 23, 2007 - Published in Charleston Post and Courier Here is a quick look at the candidates' positions, with further links to their campaign Web sites. REPUBLICANS Rudy Giuliani Giuliani's Web site is largely silent on the issue of global warming, but one of his 12 commitments is to move America toward energy...
Breaking Big Oil's monopoly
October 23, 2007 - Published in Boston Globe NEW ENGLAND'S rivers, abundant forests, and whaling industry once made it rich in energy, but for more than a century the region has suffered from being at the end of supply lines for coal, natural gas, and...
Has another bubble popped?
October 22, 2007 - Published in MarketWatch Commentary: Look for crude-oil prices to fall in coming days and...
Sustainable Transportation: A New Way of Thinking
October 22, 2007 - Published in Ethanol Statistics In the year 2000, the discovery rate of new oil reserves was approximately 10 billion barrels per year. Consumption of oil in 2006 amounted to over 30 billion barrels per year. According to the European Commission, the transportation sector relies for 98% on oil derived fuels.
Novozymes beefing up effort to make ethanol: Plans to add 35 scientists, new lab to Davis operations
October 22, 2007 - Published in Business Journal of Milwaukee Davis biotechnology company Novozymes Inc. plans to add about 35 scientists and a 20,000-square-foot laboratory building by the end of 2009. It's part of a bigger...
Gas prices expected to jump
October 20, 2007 - Published in Daily Herald Bob Krueger, 67, owner of Briarhurst Garage, shows a vintage gas price sign he keeps at his full service gas station in Clarence, N.Y., on Thursday. According to the AAA, the average cost of a gallon of unleaded regular in the Chicago area was...
Big Oil's Big Stall On Ethanol
October 19, 2007 - Published in BusinessWeek Even as it pockets billions in subsidies, it's trying to keep E85 out of drivers' tanks
Can Iowa Be a National Model for Next-Generation Biofuels and Renewable Energy Development?
October 16, 2007 - Published in Worldwatch org. The U.S. state of Iowa could realize significant economic and environmental benefits by transitioning to a sustainable, next-generation biofuels economy, according to a new joint report from the Worldwatch Institute and the Sierra Club.
Facts, Myths and Future of Brazilian Ethanol
October 15, 2007 - Published in ethanolstatistics.com
The myth of direct and indirect effects of ethanol production on the Amazon
Why Poison Ourselves
October 8, 2007 - Published in Worldwatch Paper There are today between 50,000 and 100,000 synthetic chemicals in commercial production, and new synthetics are entering the market at an average rate of three per day. Most synthetics probably pose little risk for the environment or human health, but some are poisonous even in minute quantities. Recent research on certain highly toxic synthetics has linked them to serious human health effects in the parts per trillion range. Ecological research …
Cellulosic ethanol holds key to future conservation
September 23, 2007 - Published in Lake Sun Leader Cellulosic ethanol holds key to future conservation By Babe Winkelman/Outdoors ColumnistPublished: Saturday, September 22, 2007 12:01 AM CDT Blessed are the historians, for they endeavor to educate us...
UK's first major bioethanol plant up and running
September 21, 2007 - Published in Reuters UK LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Britain's first major bioethanol plant is now up and running, a senior official at British Sugar said on Friday. 'Just over two weeks ago the first tanker came to collect the very first load of fuel,' Andy Bulman, head of biofuels for British Sugar, told a conference...
Company offers food waste to biofuel conversion
September 21, 2007 - Published in Food production daily The UK's Carbon Trust Enterprises has teamed up with an energy company to boost the conversion of industrial food waste into ethanol.
Governors to push state action on global warming
September 17, 2007 - Published in Atlanta Daily Report WASHINGTON (AP) _ Governors want to expand state regulation of greenhouse gases in hopes of increasing pressure for federal action on global warming, the chairman of the National Governors Association said... » Read more » |