How should we view the announcement that '15 ministries and commissions will promote vehicle-use ethanol gasoline, achieving full coverage by 2020'?

Having calibrated Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) for Thai consumers for over a year, I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about ethanol fuels—and so I’d like to share my perspective here. First, the conclusion: From a technical standpoint, the ethanol gasoline China plans to promote consists mostly of E10 (with E20 in a few regions)—low-concentration alcohol blends. Under properly functioning engine control systems, these blends have virtually no impact on power performance; fuel consumption increases only slightly. E10 essentially causes no corrosion, and—provided the ethanol fuel is sourced reliably—it is perfectly safe to use. From a policy perspective, I quote below the views of the National Energy Administration. Personally, I find them sound—though actual implementation remains to be seen. (1) Optimizing the energy structure: Biofuel ethanol is a renewable liquid fuel and a clean, high-quality gasoline component. Promoting vehicle-use ethanol gasoline aligns with China’s goal of building a modern energy system that is clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient. It can substitute for part of petroleum, raise the share of non-fossil energy, and enhance both energy self-sufficiency and security. (2) Improving the ecological environment: Promoting vehicle-use ethanol gasoline helps reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and harmful substances from motor vehicle exhaust—including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. Moreover, developing biofuel ethanol is an important measure for addressing open-field burning of agricultural and forestry residues (e.g., crop straw), thereby improving air quality. (3) Regulating grain markets: Developing biofuel ethanol enhances China’s capacity to regulate grain production, inventory levels, and pricing. It establishes a long-term, stable, and controllable processing-and-transformation channel for bulk agricultural commodities, promoting balanced grain supply and demand—and fostering a virtuous cycle between grain production and consumption. Simultaneously, the biofuel ethanol industry serves as an effective pathway for disposing of expired or substandard grain. (4) Advancing agriculture and rural development: Biofuel ethanol development represents a key route to deepening agricultural product processing. It helps stabilize agricultural production, increase protein feed supply, reinforce the status of major grain-producing regions, and drive high-value utilization and advanced conversion of crop straw—realizing the concept of “agricultural origins, industrial ends.” This opens new income-generating avenues for farmers and boosts both agricultural efficiency and rural economic development. (5) Promoting regional economic development: Regions rich in biomass resources—such as Northeast China—possess comparative advantages and industrial foundations for developing biofuel ethanol. Accelerating its development constitutes an important initiative under the CPC Central Committee and State Council’s strategic deployment for comprehensively revitalizing old industrial bases like Northeast China. It helps cultivate green economic growth points, facilitates the transition from old to new drivers of growth, and advances industrial restructuring. Q&A by the National Energy Administration on the ‘Implementation Plan for Expanding Biofuel Ethanol Production and Promoting Vehicle-Use Ethanol Gasoline’ — Government Affairs, State Council of the People’s Republic of China Now, let’s delve into the details. First, alcohol-based fuels are nothing new: the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Thailand, and even certain provinces in China have long used them. Anyone who has done basic research knows that fuel ethanol development was already included in China’s Tenth Five-Year Plan back in 2001. So this news comes as no surprise to me. However, after reading the question’s description and scanning users’ answers and comments, I noticed many people appear resistant to ethanol fuel promotion—yet I personally see no reason for such resistance.

[Major Recommendation] How does crop straw transform into bioethanol? | Original

Editor-in-Chief | Zhao Heyu It’s once again that time of year—the smog season. As a native Xi’an resident, I’ve frequently witnessed Xi’an’s landmark, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, seemingly “launched” into the haze. Do you recall the documentary ‘Under the Dome’ from two years ago? As widely known, industrial emissions and automobile exhaust are primary contributors to smog. In autumn and winter, open-field burning of agricultural waste—especially crop straw—also significantly contributes to PM2.5 levels. To curb rampant smog, governments have now strictly banned straw burning. As a major grain producer, China generates over 800 million tons of straw annually—according to incomplete statistics. So how should such massive quantities of agricultural waste be handled? Historically, straw has served multiple purposes: it can serve as livestock feed, be composted into fertilizer, used for household cooking or heating, and even employed in house construction. With advances in human civilization and technology, however, these traditional uses have become exceedingly rare. Consequently, vast amounts of straw have lost their utility—and instead become a burden. Currently, energy recovery from straw has emerged as one of the main trends for resolving this burden. In Denmark and Germany, electricity and heating generated from straw-based power plants meet part of local energy demand. Furthermore, straw-derived biofuels serve as excellent substitutes for fossil fuels. Converting straw into bioethanol has thus become a crucial outlet for comprehensive straw utilization. Straw comprises the stems, leaves, and panicles of crops, primarily consisting of lignocellulose—of which 30–50% is cellulose. Cellulose is a high-molecular-weight compound formed by glucose units linked via β-1,4-glycosidic bonds; it is tightly enmeshed within a dense fibrous structure cross-linked by lignin and hemicellulose—as illustrated in Figure 2 below. Figure 2: Structure of lignocellulose in straw (Rakesh K. S. et al., 2015) The United States and Brazil currently lead the world in mature and widespread bioethanol production technologies. They respectively use domestically abundant crops—corn and sugarcane—to produce bioethanol. Corn kernels yield starch, which—after enzymatic treatment—releases glucose; yeast fermentation then converts this glucose into bioethanol. Sugarcane, meanwhile, can be directly pressed for sucrose, making bioethanol production comparatively straightforward. Given China’s national conditions, producing ethanol from food crops is clearly impractical. Thus, utilizing agricultural waste—straw—for bioethanol production has risen to the top of the agenda. Yet converting cellulose in straw into bioethanol is no simple task. Why? Glucose locked inside cellulose is highly reluctant to break free. An editor asked me: “Starch and cellulose are both glucose-based polymers—so why do they differ so much?” The answer lies in how glucose units link together. Let’s compare two common disaccharides: maltose and cellobiose—both composed of glucose, as shown below. Maltose: α-1,4-glycosidic bond Cellobiose: β-1,4-glycosidic bond Don’t underestimate this subtle difference between α and β configurations—even identical molecular compositions can exhibit vastly different properties and biological functions when stereochemistry differs. Think of the α-1,4-glycosidic bond in maltose as two young lovers holding hands. A teacher cracking down on early romance (i.e., amylase) catches them instantly—and starch is simply dozens or hundreds of such couples holding hands.

Indonesia Steps Up E20 Bioethanol Push in Bid to Cut Oil Imports

6 days ago

Indonesia doubled its 2028 bioethanol-blending target to 20% to reduce fuel imports, allocating 2 million hectares for sugarcane cultivation. Sovereign fund Danantara will develop processing facilities amidst rising global demand for crop-based fuels.

bloomberg

2026-09-16

Indonesia Steps Up E20 Bioethanol Push in Bid to Cut Oil Imports

Indonesia Steps Up E20 Bioethanol Push in Bid to Cut Oil Imports

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