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SEKAB and Brazilian Partners To Introduce “Verified Sustainable Ethanol”
26 May 2008
The Swedish company SEKAB, which delivers about 90% of all ethanol in Sweden for E85 and ED95 (ethanol for heavy-duty vehicles using compression ignition engines, earlier post), announced that it will be the first company to supply verified sustainable ethanol. This ethanol from Brazilian sugarcane is quality-assured from environmental, climate and social perspectives, according to the company.
SEKAB, together with Brazilian ethanol producers, launched a Sustainable Ethanol Initiative and developed criteria that cover the entire lifecycle of ethanol from the sugarcane fields to its use in flexi-fuel (FFV) cars. The criteria are in line with demands highlighted in the ongoing processes being led by organizations like the UN, the EU, the ILO and a number of NGOs.
In terms of the climate, the demands will result in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from farming, production and transport—-i.e., in the field-to-tank component of the lifecycle—by at least 85% compared with gasoline.
The requirements also have zero tolerance for child labor, slave labor and the destruction of rain forests. There are also requirements concerning working conditions, labor laws and wages.
Harvesting is to be at least 30% mechanized today and this will increase to 100% by 2014.
An independent international verification company will audit all production units twice a year to ensure the established criteria are met.
This initiative is the first of its kind in the world and a major step for speeding up the replacement of gasoline and diesel. The criteria will gradually be developed over the coming years and synchronized with international regulations when these are in place.
—Anders Fredriksson, EVP of SEKAB BioFuels & Chemicals
The first harvest of sugarcane for verified sustainable ethanol has just begun, according to Fredriksson. The E85 fuel that will result will be in pumps in Sweden beginning in August.
SEKAB focuses on developing the market for bioethanol in northern Europe and the construction and operation of ethanol production facilities. SEKAB is also developing technology and production processes for cellulosic ethanol from cellulose, with a pilot plant in operation since 2004.
May 26, 2008 in Brazil, Ethanol, Europe | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: baldwincng | May 26, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Market forces will likely determine how we will replace fossil fuels in transportation.
It is my carefully considered opinion that the correct way to go is towards bio-diesel mainly derived from Algae.
If we were to start a "moon-landing" style project today the problem could go away in ten years.
Posted by: Lucas | May 26, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Baldwincng, just for your information (and for GCC's):
WWF Brazil just published a big report today on Brazilian ethanol.
It might be interesting for you to read it, so you can get rid of your myths.
Here:
Brazilian ethanol has nothing to do with the rainforest.
--------
Of course, as long as there are people who take an abolutist stance on conservation issues, *nothing* can be produced in a "guaranteed sustainable way".
Not even lithium-ion batteries. Let alone CNG-engines.
Posted by: Jonas | May 26, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I guess its safe to assume that Brazil's sugarcane production no longer relies on the lighting of fires, in their cane crop, to drive out the vermin??
Posted by: Mark A | May 26, 2008 at 06:38 PM
"Brazilian ethanol has nothing to do with the rainforest."
Not unless you consider all the rain forrest cut down to make room for the Sugar Cane "Something". The promise not to cut down any more rain forrests hardly makes it sustainable.
Posted by: ESabre | May 26, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Brazil's environment ministr has resigned:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7399715.stm
The only sustainable biofuel is from waste. This is obvious.
Posted by: baldwincng | May 27, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Remind me again...what exactly is green or sustainable or smart or profitable about shipping ethanol from Brazil to Sweden or whereever?
Posted by: fred | May 29, 2008 at 10:58 AM
cccc
Posted by: mahesh | May 31, 2008 at 10:06 PM
hi , trust you will like this
Posted by: mahesh vennelakanti | May 31, 2008 at 10:07 PM
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George Monbiot says:
The British government says it will strive to ensure that “only the most sustainable biofuels” will be used in the UK. It has no means of enforcing this aim - it admits that if it tried to impose a binding standard it would break world trade rules. But even if “sustainability” could be enforced, what exactly does it mean? You could, for example, ban palm oil from new plantations. This is the most destructive kind of biofuel, driving deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia. But the ban would change nothing. As Carl Bek-Nielsen, vice chairman of Malaysia’s United Plantations Bhd, remarked, “even if it is another oil that goes into biodiesel, that other oil then needs to be replaced. Either way, there’s going to be a vacuum and palm oil can fill that vacuum.”The knock-on effects cause the destruction you are trying to avoid. The only sustainable biofuel is recycled waste oil, but the available volumes are tiny.
Isn't it the same with ethanol.
It has to be all the ethanol that is produced otherwise some unsustainable ethanol will be created to fill the gap in the market left when sustainable ethanol goes to verified uses.
Isn't this obvious? Ethanol vehicles just encourage destruction of rainforest don't they?