Days after it unveiled plans to ban petrol and diesel cars and boost electric vehicles in a bid to contain air pollution and restrict traffic congestion, China announced that it would extend the use of bioethanol gasoline nationwide by 2020.
China on Tuesday announced that it would extend the use of bioethanol gasoline nationwide by 2020, days after it unveiled plans to ban petrol and diesel cars and boost electric vehicles in a bid to contain air pollution and restrict traffic congestion.
China, the world’s third-largest bioethanol producer, aims to build an advanced liquid biofuel system and put into operation a demonstration facility that will be able to produce 50,000 tonnes of cellulosic ethanol a year by 2020.
“The plan to bioethanol was unveiled as the country is pushing the use of biofuel, which is renewable, applicable, tech-savvy and environmental-friendly. It is an ideal alternative to fossil fuel,”
the National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration (NEA) said on Wednesday.
Ethanol fuel, known as E10, contains 10 per cent of ethanol. It is commonly used worldwide since it is believed to cut carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions and help ease the energy supply bottleneck.
Ethanol can be produced both from sucrose (beet or sugarcane) and corn.
China launched corn-to-ethanol pilot programmes in 2004 as part of efforts to cut emissions and advance new energy.
The country banned the use of grain for ethanol production in 2007 to ensure sufficient food supply, and biofuel manufacturers have since turned to sweet potatoes, sorghum and straw stalks instead.
More than 40 countries and regions consume about 600 million tonnes of ethanol fuel every year, accounting for around 60 per cent of the world’s annual gasoline use.
China is the world’s third-largest bioethanol producer and uses nearly 2.6 million tonnes a year. Gasoline blended with ethanol accounts for one-fifth of its annual gasoline consumption, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The plan echoes the country’s decision to consider a timetable to phase out production and sales of fossil fuel cars to cut emissions, reduce pollution and save fossil fuel energy, the Xinhua report said.
The country has been implementing a slew of measures, including tax exemptions, discounts for car purchases and an order for government organisations to buy more new energy vehicles (NEVs).
