by Dave Kimble at www.peakoil.org.au
According to the Australian National Inventory Report for 2005
www.greenhouse.gov.au/inventory/2005/index.html page 7
"Passenger cars were the largest transport source contributing 43.7 Mt. "
[ Million tonnes of CO2-e ] which is only 7.8% of our 2005 total net emissions of 559.1 Mt.
If E10 (10% ethanol) was mandated in all petrol-powered passenger cars,
it would save a maximum of 0.78% of our total net emissions
and, in reality, much less than that because of the fossil fuels used
in growing, harvesting, milling, fermenting, distilling, polishing, blending and retailing
the feedstock and the fuel, and all the transport steps in between.
The CSIRO's report "The appropriateness of a 350 ML biofuels target", December 2003
http://www.industry.gov.au/assets/documents/itrinternet/BiofuelsStudy__Main%20Report20050404103800.pdf
states that sugarcane molasses is the most efficient feedstock for ethanol,
and that E10 sourced from wheat produces only 1.7% less fossil emissions than unleaded petrol.
It follows that mandating E10 in all Australian petrol-powered passenger vehicles
can save only 0.013% of our total net emissions.
This means the environmental benefits of using ethanol in petrol are entirely fictitious,
and not deserving of any government support.