Swedes look at ethanol

Press, 25 September 1980, Page 16

Swedes look at ethanol

Sweden should take immediate steps to increase output of ethanol and by the late 1980 s could well be manufacturing a yearly total of 400,000 cubic metres derived from domestic sugar beet and grain, according to a report submitted to the Ministry of’ Agriculture .in Stockholm. In order to attain the production level indicated, it would be necessary to plant sugar beet on an additional 25,000 hectares of land, with fodder grain and damaged

From the Swedish International Press Bureau

cereal grain being used to make up for any shortfall. The construction of the plants needed to convert the , raw materials into, ethanol would cost an estimated total of Kr. 1000 (S23OM). The report urges the erection -of various prototype and demonstration plants for ethanol production and says that support should be given to research and development activities in the area, especially with regard to techniques for the utilisation of raw materials containing cellulose. A sugar mill at Karpalund, in southern Sweden,.

— now threatened with closure — should be converted for the manufacture of ethanol, the report .recommended. The report states that ethanol has considerable potential, both as a motor fuel and as raw material for the chemicals industry. Its production from domestic agricultural produce would per-, mit relatively large volumes of oil to be saved, while the admixture of ethanol to petrol would enable the latter’s octane rating to be raised, with a subsequent- drop in lead levels.