Germany to increase ethanol blend

In a bid to boost local biofuels producers Germany wants to increase the level of ethanol that can be blended with conventional petrol. The move would benefit domestic producers such as bioethanol manufacturer CropEnergies AG.

Clemens Neuman, head of the ministry’s section dedicated to sustainable agriculture and forestry, explained that the ethanol blend, which currently stands at 5%, would be increased to 10%.

In 2009 ethanol and biodiesel combined contributed towards 5.4% of the total vehicle fuels in Germany.