News Detail

For the introduction of E10 in Austria there is no need for additional grain acreage

In response to the current debate surrounding the introduction of E10 next year, AGRANA would like to make a statement concerning the environmental aspects of Austrian bioethanol production.

Data: 01.10.2011

In response to the current debate surrounding the introduction of E10 next year, AGRANA would like to make a statement concerning the environmental aspects of Austrian bioethanol production. No additional land would be needed to cultivate crops when E10 is introduced in Austria. Rather, as part of the production of bioethanol, a number of GMO-free by-products are created, which replace overseas soya feed imports.

Austrian ethanol production already covers demand for E10
The AGRANA bioethanol plant in Pischelsdorf, Lower Austria, currently produces 210,000 m3 of bioethanol every year. This Austrian bioethanol meets the greenhouse gas emissions savings target of 50 percent over petrol required by the EU as of 2017, i.e. 380,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year throughout its entire life cycle, from crop cultivation and fertilisation to its transportation, processing and subsequent use as a fuel in engines. AGRANA currently produces enough bioethanol to cover the demand for E10 in Austria. As a result, no additional capacity or land would be needed to cultivate crops when E10 is introduced in Austria – exports of bioethanol would merely be lower.

Austria currently ‘forgoes’ 190,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas savings which could be harnessed instead of being bought additionally
At present, around 50 percent of Austrian bioethanol production needs to be exported. As a result of these exports and the fact that the fuel is not used domestically, Austria currently forgoes CO2 savings of around 190,000 tonnes, which the state then has to purchase from the global market for pollution rights. Therefore, Austria should make use itself of the potential CO2 savings that can be made from domestic bioethanol production.

Download Press Release