Dear readers of my latest news, friends of environmentally friendly fuels.
This week, I’ve taken a closer look at the world of bioethanol over the past few weeks. Here we go:
Indonesia plans to establish new sugarcane plantations covering an area of approximately one million hectares to supply its planned E20 gasoline program. The Ministry of Energy estimates the annual ethanol requirement for E20 at around 4 million cubic meters—a volume far exceeding current domestic production. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the government would prioritize degraded land when selecting sites, before considering forest areas; however, he did not entirely rule out the conversion of forest land.
SunBridge BioEnergy has commenced production at its grain-based ethanol plant in Seoni, India, which has a capacity of 300,000 liters per day. The facility features a storage capacity of 11 million liters and produces fuel-grade ethanol from damaged grain—including maize and broken rice—that is unfit for human consumption. SunBridge plans to expand its ethanol capacity to 700,000 liters per day once a planned 400,000-liter-per-day facility in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, comes online. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/sunbridge-bioenergy-starts-new-ethanol-facility-at-seoni/article71549987.ece
Gevo, Inc. announced the successful sale and delivery of 10,000 carbon removal certificates—facilitated by ClimeFi—to the final corporate buyer as part of its carbon management strategy. The transaction underscores the growing demand for permanent carbon removals generated at the North Dakota facility, where biogenic carbon dioxide from ethanol production is captured and permanently stored via geological sequestration. Since carbon capture operations began at the site, more than 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ have been removed from the atmosphere. https://investors.gevo.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gevo-and-climefi-complete-carbon-removal-transaction-advancing
ORLEN has secured certification under the Oil and Gas Institute’s KZR INiG sustainability scheme for the co-hydrotreatment of bio-based feedstocks at its Płock refinery. The certification confirms that the renewable feedstocks used by the Company and their processing comply with the European Union’s requirements. This enables ORLEN to expand the production of biofuel components and count them towards the EU’s renewable energy targets for transport. The Company currently has the capacity to process approximately 100,000 tons of bio-based feedstocks annually, with planned upgrades set to increase this to around 150,000 tons. https://www.orlen.pl/en/about-the-company/media/press-releases/current/2026/August-2026/ORLEN-certified-for-biofuel-component-production-at-Plock-refinery
Scientists from Northumbria University have secured funding to build Pakistan’s first industrial-scale demonstration plant that converts agricultural waste into clean energy while creating a new source of income for women in rural areas. Every winter, farmers across Punjab burn millions of tons of cotton stalks and sugarcane waste in their fields because there is no other use for these materials. At the same time, Pakistan imports around 19 million tons of coal annually—worth over US$2.5 billion—while the rural population in southern Punjab suffers from power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day. Furthermore, the process utilizes excess heat, which is supplied to local workshops for dyeing handmade textiles; it also generates electricity for off-grid households from its own gases and produces wood vinegar—a natural pesticide sold directly to farmers. Once operational, the system runs autonomously and requires no external fuel, making it entirely sustainable. https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events/news/from-field-waste-to-fuel/
India’s ethanol program is set to exceed a cumulative supply volume of 8 billion liters in the 2025/26 ethanol supply year. Deliveries in July totaled approximately 930 million liters; of this amount, 710 million liters—representing 76% of the monthly total—came from grain, up from 73% in June. These figures underscore the growing importance of grain as a feedstock. https://sugartimes.co.in/news/sugar-industry/india-s-ethanol-supply-reaches-895-billion-litres-by-august-2026/
In May, the South Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill regarding the year-round availability of E15. Proponents argue that broader availability of E15 would strengthen agriculture and energy independence. Senator Thune stated that senators from states with small refineries could only support E15 if the issue of renewable fuel waivers were resolved. Small refineries can apply for waivers if compliance with regulations would result in disproportionate economic hardship. https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/08/05/hopes-grow-for-higher-ethanol-blend-with-inclusion-in-us-senate-farm-bill/
Purdue and Deere have joined forces to launch the “Purdue Biofuels Consortium.” This three-year collaboration brings together major engine manufacturers—such as John Deere and Cummins—and biofuel producers, including POET, Ag Processing Inc., Marquis Energy, and Growth Energy (the leading U.S. biofuel industry association). Research findings to date indicate that diesel engines currently require special sensors and additional infrastructure to adapt to these new high-ethanol fuel blends; however, the long-term goal is backward compatibility. https://engineering.purdue.edu/Herrick/about/news/stories/purdue-biofuels-consortium-to-bring-biodiesel-and-ethanol-blends-to-diesel-engines
Blending ethanol into the fuel supply has helped significantly lower gasoline prices in the U.S. during the ongoing Iran conflict, according to a new study commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The study concludes that the average cost advantage of E10 has been 38 cents per gallon since the Iran conflict began. It is common knowledge that ethanol blending saves drivers money—consumers see this every time they pull up to the pump. However, this new study precisely quantifies the economic benefits of ethanol use during a period of high crude oil prices and geopolitical instability. Amid tightening global oil supplies, U.S.-produced ethanol expands the domestic fuel supply by more than 1 million barrels per day and significantly lowers prices at the pump for consumers. This report should make it clear to policymakers that the fastest way to lower fuel prices is to blend more—not less—ethanol into gasoline. The findings underscore the urgent need for Congress to pass legislation as soon as possible authorizing the nationwide, year-round use of E15. https://ethanolrfa.org/media-and-news/category/news-releases/article/2026/09/new-study-ethanol-holding-down-gasoline-prices-during-iran-conflict
US ethanol production averaged 1.053 million barrels per day last week, an increase of 46,000 barrels from the previous week. Ethanol stocks fell by 122,000 to 23.743 million barrels. Exports rose to 166,000 barrels per day—an increase of 24,000 barrels from the previous week and 28,000 barrels compared to the previous year.
The German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) has published the first call for proposals under the new “Directive on Funding for Green Inland Navigation Corridors.” Up to 70 million euros are being made available for the development of green inland navigation corridors. Funding is provided for projects that enable the use of low-emission inland vessels and create the necessary infrastructure. Through this funding program, the BMV supports the use of zero-emission and clean propulsion and energy systems in inland navigation. The program thus contributes to achieving Germany’s climate targets, implementing European requirements for alternative fuel infrastructure, and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of inland navigation. https://www.bmv.de/SharedDocs/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2026/074-bilger-gruene-binnenschifffahrtskorridore.html
The 24th International Conference on Renewable Mobility will take place in Berlin on January 18 and 19, 2027. The theme: Shaping the transition – Full speed ahead for renewable energies. Find out more at the link: https://www.fuels-of-the-future.com/en/conference
Please find enclosed the latest UFO information sheet on oilseeds and biofuels.
I hope you’ve found some interesting information.
Until next time, best regards, Bernd Ahlers
Berlin