Northern Ireland will begin to see the rollout of new, ‘greener’ E10 petrol from November, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions. However, there are those who disagree with the approach.
The new fuel will be introduced as standard in Ireland from 1 November 2022 and consists of a blend of petrol mixed with 10% plant based renewable ethanol, hence the name E10.
The government hopes that by replacing the fuel’s predecessor E5 (which contains only 5% ethanol), it will be able to cut carbon emissions across the UK by up to 750,000 tonnes a year – equivalent to a forest the size of the Isle of Wight capturing carbon.
“The decarbonisation of transport methods has an important part to play in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals as well as creating opportunities for growth in our economy.” said Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara about the rollout.
Not everyone agrees that a switch to partially plant-based biofuels is the right move. A recent report by The Green Alliance, an independent think tank, claims that increased use of crop-based biofuels would inflate the price of food by creating land competition between fuel and food production. Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed a similar sentiment, urging G7 leaders to repurpose land currently used for crop-based biofuels to grow more food.
Mr Johnson said: “While Vladimir Putin continues his futile and unprovoked war in Ukraine and cravenly blockades millions of tonnes of grain, the world’s poorest people are inching closer to starvation. From emergency food aid to reviewing our own biofuel use, the UK is playing its part to address this pernicious global crisis.”
Britain sources more than 20% of the ethanol used to create its biofuel from Ukraine. It is estimated that land used globally to grow crops for the UK biofuel market could feed 3.5 million people if it was converted to food.
E10 has been the main fuel sold in Britain for over a year now, but, due to Ireland’s ongoing ties with the EU, there were delays in its introduction. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the change required the approval of EU countries and the European Commission before it could be officially adopted.
According to the government, 95% of existing vehicles in the country are compatible with the new E10 variant and won’t require any modifications. It has launched a campaign promoting a tool for drivers to check if their car is compatible. For those few who cannot use the new fuel, such as classic car owners or vehicles from the early 2000s, E5 will still be available at the pumps under the ‘super’ petrol grade.
As well as playing a part in the UK’s ambitions to decarbonise transport and reach its net-zero goals, the rollout of E10 petrol could also support thousands of jobs throughout the supply chain and boost job opportunities across the country.
“The small switch to E10 petrol will not only help drivers across the country reduce their environmental impact, but also could create thousands of jobs across the UK,” said Transport Minister Trudy Harrison.
