TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) said on March 22 that world ethanol production will reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 105 million tonnes in 2011, according to data from (S&T)2 Consultants Inc.

This represents a GHG reduction of more than 287,000 tonnes per day.


"This is very promising news," said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the GRFA. "These figures clearly show that biofuels are playing a critical role in reducing harmful GHG emissions around the globe."

World ethanol production is currently replacing the need for 1 million barrels of crude oil per day which would otherwise create 545,000 tonnes of GHG emissions daily.

In 2010, world ethanol production was 85.7 billion liters and is estimated to have reduced GHG emissions by 101 million tonnes — a GHG reduction of more than 276,000 tonnes per day.

GHG emission reductions of 101 million tonnes represent the equivalent of 18.7 million cars being taken off the road or the total GHG emissions reported by Austria in 2005.

In cooperation with F.O. Licht, the GRFA are predicting global ethanol production in 2011 to grow by over 3% to 88.7 billion liters. This increase in production will result in a 9% growth in GHG reductions.