The European Union (EU) has committed to carbon-reduction goals centered around E10 blending across its Member States. The US Grains Council (USGC) recently led a delegation to visit Finland, Norway, and Sweden to discuss sustainability policies and how US ethanol producers can help the Nordics meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Comprising of Cary Sifferath, VP of the USGC, Doug Berven, VP of Corporate Affairs at POET, Hagan Rose, Director of Sales and International Marketing at Eco-Energy, and Alberto Carmona, USGC Regional Athanol Consultant in Europe, the USGC delegation met with stakeholders in the region to build relationships and to further support the climate initiatives.
The EU is already one of the largest export markets for US ethanol and there is still so much opportunity for growth as its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction policies continue to develop. Ethanol uses like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will make a massive impact on reducing the transportation sector’s carbon footprint and these countries deserve recognition for their forward-thinking mindset on creating a cleaner, safer environment for us all, Cory Sifferath said.
The team arrived in Oslo, Norway, and met with advisers from the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment on May 13, 2024.
The day’s docket also featured a meeting with ZERO, a non-profit leader in carbon emission reduction strategies in Europe.
Norway implemented an E10 gasoline blend to consumers in 2023 and in 2020 became the first country to mandate SAF blending. The government plans to blend SAF at 30 percent by 2030.
On May 14, 2024, the USGC delegation traveled to Stockholm Sweden to participate in a roundtable with representatives from Bioenergy International; Colabit; the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE); Lantmännen Group; the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) Task 39; the Swedish Bioenergy Association (Svebio), and the World Bioenergy Association (WBA).
High-blend ethanol, E85, for flexi-fuel vehicles (FFVs), was introduced in Sweden in 2005, and E10 was introduced in 2021.
Sweden also has a high demand for biofuel-blended diesel fuel, presenting several major opportunities for ethanol growth in the country.
For instance, ED95, a blend of 95 percent ethanol and a 5 percent ignition improver for modified diesel engines with a higher compression ratio and an adapted fuel system, was launched in Stockholm city buses back in 1985.
Scania and Lantmännen relaunched ED95 for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in late 2018.
Sweden raised its SAF blending mandate to 1.7 percent in 2022 and in 2023, Trollhättan-Vänersborg Airport (THN) became the first in the world to offer blended SAF for all aircraft refueling.
Of note too is Swedish Biofuels AB, the inventor of the original Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology to produce fully formulated SAF (FFSAF) from alcohols. Patented in 2004, the proprietary technology produces a ready-to-use drop-in jet fuel, not a blend component.
The visit continued in Helsinki, Finland, with meetings with the Bioenergy Association of Finland (Bioenergia) and the renewable energy policy unit at the Finnish Ministry of Economy and Employment.
Finland aims to have the majority of its energy come from renewable sources and reduce GHG emissions from the aviation sector by 30 percent by 2030. The government also provides financial incentives for consumers to purchase E85-compatible vehicles.
Our meetings in Finland, Norway, and Sweden were a great opportunity to better understand the sustainability objectives of the countries and to explain how US producers are well positioned to assist them on their journey to GHG reduction, commented Doug Berven.
