| Energy
Vivergo Fuels calls for E10 fuel to support UK farming
Vivergo Fuels, the UK’s biggest producer of bioethanol, is calling on the Government to provide greater certainty to UK
farmers by pushing forward with the introduction of E10 fuel, which will cultivate an alternative domestic market for
their produce.
n the back of the
harvest, the UK’s
major wheat buyer,
Vivergo is
boosting the
fortunes of farmers
to the value of £1m per month,
compared to the smaller export
value they would receive. The
company takes up to 100,000
tonnes of animal feed grade wheat
each month to create its ethanol,
which is then blended into petrol.
However, Vivergo, which
operates a £350m plant at Salt
End near Hull, says it can play an
even bigger role and is asking the
Government to increase the
ethanol blending ratio in petrol
from current levels (5%) to 10%,
through the introduction of greener
fuel, E10. This will boost the UK
economy by supporting UK
farmers and UK jobs, as well as
helping to meet strict and legallybinding environmental targets.
Mark Chesworth, Managing
Director of Vivergo Fuels, said: “It
is essential that the UK
Government is supportive in terms
of increasing the current
bioethanol blending ratio in UK
petrol, so that Vivergo Fuels and
the wider industry can provide a
long term, sustainable and secure
domestic market for UK farmers.
Increased demand for bioethanol
will allow farmers to sell their
wheat in the UK instead of
exporting, increasing their
earnings. This in turn will benefit
the wider UK economy and
O
support jobs throughout the
supply chain, further boosting UK
industry.”
Vivergo Fuels, which opened in
2012, is one of the biggest
investors in the Humber region
and has supported thousands of
jobs so far, directly and indirectly,
with scope to support many more
in the future, particularly in the
agricultural sector.
NFU President, Meurig
Raymond, said: “The UK biofuels
industry is incredibly beneficial to
farmers across the country, as it
adds value to grain and oilseeds
for feed and fuel markets. The
process ensures that animal-grade
wheat is bought at a fair price, and
the bi-product of animal feed
creates a collaborative process
that benefits both the farmers and
the biofuels industry.”
Vivergo also believes that E10
represents the most cost-effective
and straightforward channel for the
UK to meet its legally binding,
transport-specific targets and air
quality challenges, this has been
echoed by the Select Committee.
By 2020, all European countries,
including the UK must ensure that
10% of transport fuel is sourced
from renewable sources to reduce
transport’s environmental impact,
which is increasing year-on-year.
This mandate is parallel to the
UK’s own strict carbon reduction
goals. E10 will help to reduce
global emission levels, mitigate the
rapid rate of climate change, and
improve air quality.
30 | Farming Monthly | December 2016
For more information on how
Vivergo produces home grown,
sustainable feed and fuel, visit
www.vivergofuels.com
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk