Government plans E10 petrol roll out from September

Government plans to introduce E10 petrol across the UK in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions.  

According to the Department for Transport (DfT), E10 fuel, which is a mixture of petrol and ethanol and is made from materials including low-grade grains, sugars and waste wood, could cut transport CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road. 

The two petrol blends that are currently widely available in the UK contain no more than 5% ethanol, but this new fuel has up to 10%.

The E10 fuel will be widely available at petrol stations across the country from September. 

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. 

 The DfT has said that this project will also boost job opportunities in the North East, securing up to 100 jobs with the reopening of AB Sugar’s Vivergo plant.

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.’

Dr Mark Carr, Group Chief Executive of AB Sugar, added: ‘We are delighted to be re-opening the Vivergo Fuels site today located in the heart of the Northern Powerhouse on the back of the Government’s decision to move forward with E10.

‘We’ve long been calling for this introduction as E10 is one of the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective ways of the UK reducing its carbon emissions whilst providing an economic boost to sustaining the British biofuels industry and the local and national economy.

‘We will be recruiting around 85 highly skilled green jobs in addition to the core team that remained in place during its closure in the North East of England and re-opening a new market for wheat farmers in the UK.’

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