Frequently Asked Questions
Why Produce Biofuels?
Ethanol
Ethanol can play a role in helping Canada to meet its climate change objectives. On a full cycle basis, the use of a litre of E-10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) fuel instead of gasoline can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 to 4 percent if ethanol is produced from grain or 6 to 8 percent if it is produced from cellulose. Using E-85 fuel instead of straight gasoline can reduce net emissions by as much as 75 percent.
The combination of ethanol and gasoline results in overall increases in smog-producing volatile organic compounds compared with either pure ethanol or pure gasoline. However, this can be overcome by blending ethanol with a gasoline that has been manufactured to have low volatility.
A high-ethanol fuel such as E-85 also produces lower levels of nitrogen oxides and toxic hydrocarbons such as benzene (a carcinogen) than gasoline does. Although E-85 produces higher levels of formaldehyde and other toxic aldehydes, the resulting concentrations are small and are effectively removed by catalytic converters in late-model cars.
Ethanol: The Road to a Greener Future
Bio-diesel
Although not as well known as ethanol, bio-diesel can also reduce the environmental impact of our daily lives. A blend of 20 percent bio-diesel will reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent, produces fewer particulates, and also lowers other harmful emissions.
Many jurisdictions worldwide have regulated the use of low (or ultra-low) sulphur diesel to reduce harmful tailpipe emissions, but reducing the sulphur content also reduces the fuel’s lubricity for diesel engines. Blending bio-diesel with petroleum diesel replaces much of this beneficial aspect of sulphur without the emissions that have been blamed for “acid rain.”