Tag Archives: German biofuel

BAFA: Germany consumed 780 million gallons of biodiesel in 2010

March 16, 2011   Karl   No comments
biodiesel pump

Ethiopia gets geared up for biodiesel

Germany’s Federal Office for Economy and Export Control (BAFA) released figures recently on the nation’s total biodiesel sales in 2010. BAFA reports that approximately 2.6 million metric tons (780.5 million gallons) of biodiesel was sold into the German fuel market last year. A majority of that, about 2.3 million tons, was sold for blending into the 32.1 million ton German diesel fuel market, which comes to slightly more than 7 percent.

The German oilseed council UFOP commented on the numbers, stating, “Biodiesel will remain an alternative fuel of great importance in the future … the consumption of diesel will continue to rise due to the constantly higher quantities of goods transported by road.”

The council then said, “Besides, so-called second-generation fuels replacing diesel will not be available for a foreseeable time, UFOP is convinced. So UFOP confirms the necessity that biodiesel should be conceded a future both as pure fuel and as admixture in motor fuel. There is no other way of meeting the climate targets in the transport sector.”

While Germany consumed more than 780 million gallons of biodiesel last year, the U.S. only produced 315 million gallons of biodiesel in 2010, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Thanks and Source biodieselmagazine.com

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Verbio’s biogas plant approved

March 07, 2011   Karl   No comments
Verbio

German Environmental Minister Norbert Röttogen gives OK to biofuel producer and supplier Verbio's proposal to build a biogas plant in Schwedt.

The 2 March 2011 saw German Environmental Minister Norbert Röttogen OK biofuel producer and supplier Verbio’s proposal to build a biogas plant in Schwedt.

The plant will produce second generation biofuel from biomass residues without the use of foodstuffs. Verbio’s second biogas plant of this kind, it has a power output of 30MW in the initial stage, and is to be expanded to 75MW.

‘Our verbiogas is the solutions for making biofuels a viable replacement for fossil fuels in environmental and economic terms,’ explains Verbio’s CEO Claus Sauter. ‘As an alternative fuel to diesel, the Verbio biogas can help to reach or even beat the CO2 emissions target of 95g/km for newly registered passenger cars set by the EU for 2020 much more quickly.

‘verbiogas is produced from biomass residues, achieves a 90% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) compared with petrol, is already competitive and is a genuine second generation biofuel,’ he continues.

According to Röttgen, ‘The innovative Verbio biogas plant in Schwedt is an outstanding example of how Germany is a world leader in environmental technology. This innovate concept shows the way forward for biomass use. If we intend to meet our targets for expanding renewable energy, we need more bioenergy, not less. At the same time, we must not let bioenergy impair or jeopardise the production of foodstuffs or harm biodiversity. The Verbio concept is the key to the future here, as it helps to alleviate the conflicts in use between bioenergy and food production.’

The plant will produce biogas exclusively from biomass residues materials such as slope, a by-product of bioethanol production, and straw. The biogas is processed to the same quality standard as natural gas, and then fed into the existing natural gas network and made available as a fuel at natural gas filling stations.

The development comprises a bioethanol plant, a biogas plant and a bio-fertiliser plant. The biofuels produced in this way achieve GHG reductions of up to 90% compared with petrol.

From early 2011 onwards Verbio will generate an estimated 500GWh of verbiogas from its plants in Schwedt and Zörbig. This is enough to supply to 25% of Germany’s natural gas stations. The company’s output will increase to 2,000GWh by 2015.

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Biofuel As Aircraft Fuel Actively Being Considered In Germany

March 03, 2011   Karl   No comments

Biofuel As Aircraft Fuel Actively Being Considered In Germany

Airlines in Malaysia, which have been pioneering the development of biofuel, might be interested to know that German experts are “actively considering” the use of biofuel in aircraft.

Indeed, the subject of biofuel, for use in aircraft, has gained momentum.

This emerged at a crowded Cargo Climate Care Conference in Frankfurt on Tuesday organised by Lufthansa-Cargo, the world’s biggest cargo carrier, with the participation of internationally renowned experts on the subject.

Karl-Heinze Koepfle, Chairman of LH-Cargo said “environmental care” had always been “top priority” for the carrier.

“LH-Cargo did not back away from its responsibility to environment protection, even as we had the worst recession in post-war history, and did research and deploy lighter aircraft,” he added.

Joachim Buse, Vice President of Aviation Fuel at Deutsche Lufthansa, said the airline was conscious of the fact that biofuel, extracted from agricultural crops, could lead to food shortage and increased prices.

He referred to a plant cultivated in Mexico which could possibly be used as a source of fuel as it was neither consumed by humans or animals.

It’s use will not create any food shortage or affect consumption by humans.

“We do not want to become a competitor for the food sector,” said Buse, ading that the consumption of the plant would not create any food shortage.

Malaysia was involved in research projects to create fuel processed from palm fruit.

Buse also revealed that Lufthansa had applied to the German authorities to fly aircraft with biofuel.

“This would be the first time an aircraft would fly on the basis of biofuel.

“We will operate an A-123 aircraft on a six-month trial basis and thereafter review the situation.

“Six scientific institutes will be involved in closely monitoring the A123 flights with biofuel,” Buse said.

He also said the process of issuing a permit was in the “final stage”.

There is mounting public pressure on the airline to conserve the planet’s resources besides saving costs to develop alternative fuels.

Lufthansa-Cargo, which has been in the forefront of its energy-conservation drive, has also been encouraging young researchers and students at universities to work on alternative energy.

The carrier has also been encouraging young researchers and students to pursue their research on alternative forms of energy by offering them special awards for their contribution in environmental conservation.

At the Frankfurt conference, for instance, Lufthansa-Cargo gave out a “Young Reserchers” Award 2011 to a group of three engineering students from the Munich University for Applied Sciences.

Another award was given to an Austrian mechanical engineer for his work in the field of fatigue proof light-weight design, at the Montan University in Leoben, Austria.

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Berlin demands clarity over new biofuel phase-in

March 03, 2011   Karl   No comments

Berlin demands clarity over new biofuel phase-in

The German government demanded clarity from the biofuel industry on whether it will continue with a planned roll-out of gasoline with a higher biofuel content after its association send mixed messages about a halt.

“The confusion that the biofuel industry is causing is not acceptable,” Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen told journalists on Thursday after the MWV association denied a media report that the roll-out of the fuel, known as E10, would be temporarily halted.

Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said he would invite industry participants to a ‘biofuel summit’ to explain their plans.

The MWV said on Monday up to 70 percent of motorists were avoiding the new blend in petrol stations, with many apparently concerned it might cause engine damage.

Uncertainty over whether the fuel’s gradual introduction, flagged for the first quarter of the year, would be halted, hit the share prices of Germany’s bioethanol firms, which had prepared markets for a major rise in sales. [ID:nLDE6BT19X]

Verbio (VBKG.DE) ended Thursday down 8.6 percent, and sugar producer Suedzucker’s CropEnergies (CE2G.DE) unit fell 14.7 percent.

The MWV said in a mid-afternoon statement the E10 phase-in would continue after news agency dpa reported the association’s head, Klaus Picard, as saying it would be temporarily stopped.

The fuel is being introduced in stages as part of a push by Germany to better protect the environment. [ID:nLDE69Q253]

The government permitted a rise in the maximum level of bioethanol allowed in blended gasoline to 10 percent from 5 percent from the start of this year.

But motorists are continuing to use the old fuel with 5 percent bioethanol content called E5, the MWV said. If the trend continued, petrol stations would run out of E5 gasoline.

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German motorists are avoiding filling up with Bioethanol

February 28, 2011   Karl   No comments

Motorists avioding biofuel blends

German motorists are avoiding filling up their cars with gasoline with a higher biofuel blend due to concerns it could cause engine damage, German oil industry association MWV said.

The German government has from Jan. 1, 2011, permitted a rise in the maximum level of bioethanol allowed in blended gasoline to 10 percent from 5 percent previously as part of German’s programme to protect the environment.

The new fuel is being introduced in stages in the first quarter of 2011, but the MWV said up to 70 percent of motorists are avoiding the new blend, called E10, in petrol stations where it has been introduced.

Many motorists were apparently concerned about possible engine damage from the new blend, although 90 percent of cars can use the higher E10 blend without difficulty, it said.

Motorists continue to use the old fuel with 5 percent bioethanol content called E5, it said.

If the trend continued, petrol stations would run out of E5 gasoline, it said.

The association said motorists should simply check whether their car is suitable for the higher blend.

Germany’s bioethanol industry is expecting a major rise in sales in 2011 because of the new fuel

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Germany to raise it’s bioethanol blending in gasoline

October 26, 2010   Karl

Germany to raise bioethanol blending in gasoline

The German cabinet will vote on Wednesday on a proposal to raise the maximum level of bioethanol allowed in blended gasoline to 10 percent in January 2011 from 5 percent now, the country’s environment ministry said on Monday.

The move is part of Germany’s efforts to meet European Union plans to raise biofuel use to protect the environment, it said.

Analysts said the increase would help boost demand for grain next year, but there also would be tough competition from sugar and imported bioethanol.

“Currently sugar is looking most competitive for bioethanol output after the sharp rise in grain prices this year,” one analyst said. “But overall there is likely to be increased demand for both grains and sugar, so more blending will be positive news for producers.”

Introduction of fuels with higher bioethanol content has in the past been controversial because of fears of engine damage to older cars.

The ministry said about 90 percent of German automobiles would be capable of using fuels with the higher blend level, which will be clearly labeled at petrol stations.

Germany’s large bioethanol industry, which mostly uses grain and sugar as feedstock, has been hoping for the change for some time.

Grains futures surged to two-year highs in early August, almost doubling from June lows as a drought devastated Russia‘s harvest and the country announced a grain export ban.

Germany consumed about 1.2 million tonnes of grain for bioethanol output in 2009, the German state alcohol production supervision agency BMB said. This compared with a German 2009 grain crop of 43.7 million tonnes.

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