As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change wraps up its Plenary Session and launches its assessment report in Stockholm, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance in cooperation with F.O. Licht and (S&T)² Consultants Inc. released their Global Annual Ethanol Production and Global Green House Gas Emission Reduction Forecasts. The GRFA is forecasting fuel ethanol production to hit 85 billion liters (22.45 billion gallons) which will reduce GHG emissions by 100 million metric tons in 2013.
 
Despite a fragile European economy and a slower than predicted global economic recovery, the GRFA in cooperation with F.O. Licht forecast a near 1.5 percent growth in ethanol output of 85 billion liters in 2013, up from just over 83 billion liters 2012.
 
“This years forecast shows that even in the face of a difficult global economy, demand for biofuels is growing. This is excellent news but demand and production need to continue to grow to further reduce our reliance on crude oil,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance.
 
More positive news from this global growth is that ethanol production in all parts of the world, including the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe are forecasted to increase, with the United States and Brazil continuing to be the largest producers.
 
“Perhaps the best news of all is that Europe is forecasted to increase ethanol output by over 3% in 2013 as biofuels continue to be in demand and the industry continues to grow in the face of political wrangling and economic hardship,” stated Baker.
 
In partnership with (S&T)² Consultants Inc., an internationally renowned energy and environmental consulting firm, the GRFA released figures that demonstrate the positive impact global ethanol production continues to have on reducing global GHG emissions. Figures reveal that world ethanol production in 2013 will reduce global GHG emissions by nearly 274,000 metric tons per day. Compared to 2012, this is an increase of nearly 4000 metric tons per day in GHG reductions.
 
“These encouraging numbers show that global biofuels production is reducing greater amounts of GHG emissions year after year which is playing a significant role in successfully combating climate change,” said Baker. “Reducing GHG emissions by over 100 million tonnes per year is very significant particularly in the transportation sector, it is equal to removing over 20 million cars off the road, that’s more than all the cars registered in Portugal and The Netherlands or all the cars in the Republic of Korea.”