In the last few months, several biofuel products have been launched to the European market for road transport. More details on these are covered below:
In July 2023, Q8 started selling E10 gasoline (up to 10% v/v ethanol in conventional gasoline) in Italy. This product is marketed and sold as ‘.' According to Q8's announcement, Q8 Hi Perform 100 Ottani contains more than 20% renewable components. SGS INSPIRE assumes other bio-based components are being blended in this .
On October 17, 2023, E20 gasoline was made available at a station in Mannheim, to a limited vehicle fleet as part of a trial. The vehicle manufacturers involved in the test run of this product include Volkswagen (VW), BMW, Seat, Skoda and Audi. The bio-ethanol is expected to be supplied by Crop Energies, the ethanol producer which started for the production of advanced bio-ethanol in Germany in 2022. Oktan Gmbh is also involved in the operation of this trial. ADAC, the German Automobile Club, this E20 gasoline trial and explains that by increasing the blending rate of ethanol in gasoline from 10 to 20% by v/v, there are more greenhouse gas emission savings compared to E10 gasoline grade. However, according to the EU Fuel Quality Directive 98/70/EC () and the EU gasoline standard (EN 228), the maximum ethanol allowed to be blended in conventional gasoline is 10% by v/v, and blending ethanol at 20% by v/v is not yet .
For more information on the availability of bio-based gasoline in Europe, please refer to the SGS INSPIRE report EU: overview of quality.
On October 17, 2023, fuel retailer started to sell pure hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO 100) products at its fuel station in New Liffey Valley in Dublin. According to the announcement, the HVO is produced from waste plant matter (expected to be RED II, Annex IX, part A feedstocks). This product will be available across new forecourts scheduled to open in Clarehall, Clearwater, Ballymount, Ashbourne and Drogheda by the end of 2023.
In Italy, HVO 100 is being sold at Q8 fuel station. The product, labeled as , is produced through the hydrogenation of fats from animal origin and vegetable and/or waste and residual feedstocks. was made available in the Italian market on February 20, 2023, by ENI.
For more information on the availability of bio-based diesel in Europe, please refer to the SGS INSPIRE report EU: overview of / quality.