This spring, the petrol type 95 E10 was introduced in Norway. Then they went from up to five percent bioethanol in the petrol, to a petrol with up to ten percent bioethanol. The new standard petrol in Norway thus consists of at least 90 per cent fossil fuel, and not 95 per cent as it did previously. This makes E10 petrol more environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, it does not lead to less greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic in Norway. The reason is the so-called turnover requirement. The government requires that 17 percent of all fuel sold at petrol stations in Norway must be biofuel. The petrol station chains solve this by mixing biofuel into petrol and diesel. When there is now more biofuel in petrol, there will be less in diesel, explains acting head of the transport section in the Norwegian Environment Agency, Hanna Thorsen. E10 petrol is the new standard petrol in Norway. Photo: Hannah Bøthun / news Facts about E10 E10 is a fuel with up to 10 percent bioethanol (biofuel) All cars from 2011 or newer can run on E10. E10 should not be used on outboards and cars older than 2001, including vintage cars. Car owners who are unsure whether their car can handle E10 should check with their dealer. E10 is more climate-friendly than traditional fossil fuel. Emissions from biofuel are not considered fossil fuel and do not contribute to climate emissions. (Source NAF) New industry standard does not hold More biofuel in petrol and less in diesel, therefore does not change the total proportion of biofuel in road traffic. The Ministry of Transport explains it as follows in an e-mail to news; “Increased use of biofuel has a positive climate effect, but the introduction of E10 does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions overall due to the turnover requirement.” It is the industry itself that has decided that E10 petrol is the new standard in Norway. Taxi driver Geir Ulsmåg in Bergen fills the tank with new E10 petrol. Photo: Hannah Bøthun / news NAF: – Costs more NAF is not enthusiastic about the new petrol. – We think it is very difficult to give a final answer to the environmental accounting in this regard. This means that we find it difficult to see the effect of this measure, says advisor Jan Harry Svendsen. He further explains that the new petrol will cost motorists more. The reason is that bioethanol has a lower energy content than fossil fuel. The consumption of fuel thus increases when more bioethanol is added. Drivkraft Norge states that you will consume around 1.5 per cent more fuel when you use the new petrol type. Increased consumption means increased costs. The average motorist has to pay around NOK 170 more a year for E10 petrol, compared to traditional petrol. NAF does not like this. Calculation for price increase with E10 The average mileage for a passenger car is 7765 km a year, that is 776.5 miles. A medium-sized petrol car uses 0.7 liters per mile. 775.5/0.7 = 543.5 liters of petrol a year. You will consume around 1.5 percent more fuel when you use E10 instead of E5. 543.5*1.5/100 ≈ 8 liters more per year on petrol. We start from the petrol price for May 2023 of NOK 21.44. 21.44*8 = NOK 171.52 more per year when using E10. Sources: Statistisk Sentralbyrå, Statens Vegvesen and Drivkraft Norge – We believe that motorists are already paying a lot to correct the environmental impact they cause when they drive, says Jan Harry Svendsen, adviser at NAF. The standard in Europe Petrol has for over a decade been the fuel standard in a number of European countries, including our neighboring countries Sweden, Denmark and Finland. In order to reduce the total climate emissions from road traffic in Norway, the new industry standard is not sufficient. It is the turnover requirement that must be changed. Drivkraft Norge, the industry association for companies that sell liquid fuel and energy, explains that it is up to the traders how they meet the turnover requirement. – But it can be sold more than the 17 percent by volume, and consequently it will be positive for greenhouse gas emissions, says Kjartan Berland, head of department at Drivkraft Norge. – Is it sold more than this 17 percent? – It is clear that the fuel industry wants to be involved in helping to get the most climate-friendly fuel on the market. It is quite obvious that the minimum requirement is 17 percent by volume, so each individual market player must assess which product combinations they sell in total during the year. Head of department Kjetil Berland at Drivkraft Norge, the industry association for companies that sell liquid fuel and energy. Photo: Moment Studio Want increased sales requirements At the end of June, the Directorate submitted a proposal for increased sales requirements for biofuel for consultation on behalf of the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. There, the ministry proposes that the turnover requirement be increased from 17 to 19 percent by volume. Drivkraft Norge agrees that the turnover requirement should be increased. – We are basically positive about that. The important thing is to find mechanisms and a flexibility that enables the industry to get hold of the products that we must have, and manage to supply them to the Norwegian market, says Berland. But whether an increase in the turnover requirement leads to an increase in the number of liters of biofuel will depend on the development in the sale of liquid fuel. The trend now is that sales are falling. – Biofuel is an important measure to achieve national climate targets. At the same time, sustainable biofuel is a very limited resource, and the Norwegian Environment Agency recommends prioritizing other measures to reduce emissions from the transport sector, says Thorsen.
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The new E10 petrol does not lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions in road traffic – news Vestland
