Government announces introduction of E10 petrol in UK from September 2021
Thu 25 February 2021
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The Government has announced that E10 petrol will be introduced to UK pumps from September. E10 is a mixture of petrol and ethanol made from materials including low-grade grains, sugars and waste wood. Zemo Partnership has welcomed the announcement.
Following a consultation with drivers and industry, the Government has taken the decision to enable the introduction of E10 which it says will cut transport carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.
The decision has prompted an announcement about the reopening of AB Sugar’s Vivergo plant in Hull. Ensus' facility on Teesside has also announced plans to increase production.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "We’re going further and faster than ever to cut emissions from our roads, cleaning up our air as we accelerate towards a zero-emission transport future.
"Although more and more motorists are driving electric vehicles, there are steps we can take to reduce emissions from the millions of vehicles already on our roads – the small switch to E10 petrol will help drivers across the country reduce the environmental impact of every journey, as we build back greener."
A small number of older vehicles, including classic cars and some from the early 2000s, will continue to need E5 fuel, which is why supplies of E5 petrol will be maintained in the ‘Super’ grade. Government is advising motorists to use the new E10 compatibility checker to see if their vehicle is compatible.
Grant Pearson, Director of Ensus UK Ltd, said: "The announcement today of the planned introduction of E10 fuel by the Department for Transport is excellent news – not only for the environment but also for the British bioethanol industry. E10 will mean that the majority of petrol sold in the UK will have lower greenhouse gas emissions than today, when fully introduced."
Zemo Partnership (as LowCVP) has long championed the case for renewable fuels and published a report in 2017 - 'Successfully Deploying E10 Petrol'. Welcoming the announcement, Zemo Partnership issued an immediate response to the news, including a statement from Managing Director, Andy Eastlake.
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