Europe’s ethanol biorefineries again produced more food and animal feed than fuel in 2023, European renewable ethanol association ePURE said recently.
According to audited data released in September, ePURE members and other European makers of renewable ethanol last year produced 6.5 million tonnes of food and feed co-products including high-protein animal feed and 5.08 million tonnes, or 6.4 billion litres, of renewable ethanol. The biorefineries produced a total of 8.77 million tonnes of co-products, including also 1.46 million tonnes of captured biogenic CO2, which replaces fossil CO2 in beverage and greenhouse applications.
All of the crops used in production were grown in Europe. Nearly half (48.3%) of the ethanol produced last year was from corn, 24.8% was from wheat, 10.4% from sugars, 5.3% from other cereals and starch-rich crops, and 11.2% from ligno-cellulosic and other feedstocks.
In terms of end use, 85.9% went for fuel, while 6.5% was used for industrial applications including hand sanitiser, and 7.6% for food and beverages.
The ethanol output of 6.44 billion litres means the biorefineries covered in the analysis operated at 80% of their 8.05 billion litres of installed capacity. At the same time, EU ethanol imports remained high in 2023 at 2.08 billion litres.
David Carpintero, ePURE Director General, said that renewable ethanol biorefineries are a vital strategic asset for the EU as they help the EU to reduce carbon emissions, secure food systems, ensure energy independence and build agricultural and industrial autonomy.
