European Union to turn unsold European wines into ethanol

In a tender offer announced by the European Union, 1.8 million gallons of wine from France, Spain, Italy and Greece will be offered for ethanol production.  The EU has used “crisis distillation” in several instances in the past to eliminate supply imbalances in the wine industry, but typically has distilled into industrial alcohol. The practice has been criticized in the past as a form of subsidized wine production, and because it forestalls reforms in the European wine industry which critics say are long overdue.

The ethanol initiative represents another step toward “second generation” biofuels, which utilize waste products, although fans of fine French wines may be aghast at the idea of Peugeots motoring along using Burgundy or Bordeaux for fuel.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

“European Biofuels Challenge” report available for free download

Piribo has made its report "The European Biofuels Challenge - Developments in European Union Policy and Industry Drivers" available for free download here. The report covers first and second-generatio...

EU finalizes anti US biodiesel dumping duties of up to $2.50 per gallon

In Belgium, the European Union finalized plans to impose anti-dumping duties on US biodiesel. The European Commission proposal was adopted by EC finance ministers and will take effect July 12th. Dutie...

10 Most Offbeat Stories of the Year: a Biofuels Digest anniversary special report

#1. A favorite story this year was the vote by the Vermont State Senate to approve hemp cultivation for the production of ethanol. That is ethanol, a/k/a/ "moonshine whiskey" and hemp a/k/a "marijuana...

European Union proposes biofuels must deliver 35 percent CO2 emision gain, rising to as much as 60 percent

The European Union has circulated a draft directive to address the use of sustainable biofuels when its 10 percent biofuels directive takes full effect by 2020. The proposed directive would require bi...

EU to impose duties on US biodiesel: average projected at 0.41 euros per kilogram of fuel

The European Union said it will impose temporary import duties on US biodiesel, to offset the $1 per gallon biodiesel subsidy paid to US producers by the federal government. The EU said it will impose...

EU eases subsidies for biofuels after cultivation reaches 2 million hectare threshold level

The European Union reduced subsidies for biofuel crop cultivation after production reached the 2 million hectare threshold. Under the EU program, farmers may receive up to 45 euros per hectare devoted...