According to the latest EurObserv’ER report on biofuels in the European Union, after a certain degree of stagnation in bioethanol production and demand in 2008, Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) figures for the first half of 2009 show that the German bioethanol industry is undergoing a recovery, with demand rising almost four-fold compared to 2008.
After the trauma of new legislation regulating biofuels in Germany (imposing a cap and higher taxes) and problems with more expensive and restricted supplies of raw materials, it appears that the driving force behind the European biofuels industry is beginning to return to cruising speed. The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) recently published data showing that bioethanol production was up 61% during the first half of 2009, with demand standing at 450,000 tonnes.
According to BAFA, bioethanol demand amounted to 453,000 tonnes in the first six months of the year (without specifying if this is a net amount or petroleum equivalent), 332,000 tonnes of which has been mixed directly with gasoline. This figure is more than 3.6 times demand in the same period of 2008, which stood at 91,000 tonnes.
The Germany Bioethanol Association (BDB) has also analysed production and calculated that is has risen from last year. Between January and June 2009, ethanol production rose to 261,000, up 50% on the same period in the previous year. The figure for the whole of 2008 published on the DBD website amounts to 460,000 tonnes. One company which has bounced back from the previous slump is Verbio, having seen its bioethanol production more than doubling to 79,500 tonnes during the first six months of 2009.
For additional information:
EurObserv’ER
Renewable Energy Magazine 2009. All rights reserved
