Since 2005, EU bioethanol fuel production has been dramatically increasing. The top 5 EU producers are currently France, Germany and Spain, followed by Poland and Hungary. However, substantial imports of this renewable fuel are entering the EU from third countries through a customs system that is not always transparent and effective.
20091116
Read more The development of biofuels is driven by policy and regulations. The EU’s biofuel policy is based on the Biofuels Directive (2003) and the Renewable Energy Directive (2008). The latter represents a revolutionary approach - thanks to an unprecedented, ambitious set of sustainability criteria that guarantee the development of sustainable biofuels only. Nevertheless, the application of these criteria to biofuels alone is only one piece of the puzzle.
20091116
Read more The main feedstocks for bioethanol produced in the EU are cereals and sugar beet. Throughout the production process, valuable co-products are yielded, such as protein-rich animal feed. Domestic production of animal feed reduces imports of soybeans mainly coming from South America, where this can cause deforestation. European bioethanol fuel has therefore a positive impact on the food and feed chain, as well as on global land availability.
20091116
Read more The production of bioethanol fuel in the EU has a positive impact on economic growth and job creation. Bioethanol producers hire high qualified workforce and train unskilled staff – mostly in rural areas. This might bring up to 225,000 new jobs in the EU by 2020. This growth is a positive driver of the European GDP, employment rates, research and the positioning of the EU as leading knowledge-based economy.
20091116
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