ePURE says its members’ ethanol reduced GHG emissions 71% in 2018

In Belgium, European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) members produced 5.81 billion liters of ethanol and 5.55 million tons of beneficial co-products in 2018, according to new audited data released by the industry group. The figures confirm the importance of ethanol biorefineries to the EU’s efforts to fight climate change and offset its animal-feed protein deficit.

Of the total ethanol output in 2018, 82% was for fuel use, with an average of more than 71% greenhouse-gas savings compared to petrol in 2018. Ethanol’s GHG-reducing performance increased for the seventh year in a row as the sustainability of European renewable ethanol continues to improve annually. Of the rest of the ethanol production in 2018, 9% was for industrial use and 9% for food and beverages.

Along with the fuel, ePURE members’ ethanol refineries also produced 5.55 million tons of co-products, including 4.20 million tons of GMO-free animal feed and 0.77 million tons of captured CO2. More than 99% of the feedstock used to produce renewable ethanol by ePURE members – including cereals, sugars, wastes and residues – was grown or sourced in Europe.