ePure members produced 5.57B liters of ethanol in 2020

In Belgium, European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) members produced 5.57 billion liters of ethanol and 6.16 million metric tons of co-products in 2020, according to audited data released today by the industry group. The figures showed a significant increase in production of ethanol for industrial use, including for hand sanitizers and disinfectants.

The new statistics confirm the importance of European renewable ethanol biorefineries to achieving EU Green Deal objectives by reducing transport emissions and ensuring sustainable domestic production of animal feed and other beneficial co-products, including captured CO2. More than 98% of the feedstock used to produce renewable ethanol by ePURE members – including cereals, sugars, wastes and residues – was grown or sourced in Europe.

Of the total ethanol output from ePURE members in 2020 (the most recent year for which data have been compiled and audited), more than 79% was for fuel use, with an average of more than 75% greenhouse-gas savings compared to fossil petrol.

Of the remaining ethanol production in 2020, 5.6% was for food and beverage uses and 15.2% was for industrial applications, including hand sanitizer and other hygienic uses. When the COVID-19 pandemic surged in early 2020, several EU ethanol biorefineries swiftly adapted production to supply ethyl alcohol for medical use, while continuing to make low-carbon renewable fuel ethanol.