Ethanol as renewable energy [Ethiopia]

Ethanol is a clean-burning, renewable, domestically produced fuel from fermented agricultural products such as corn, wheat, sugarcane juice, beet juice, and molasses (one of the major by-products of sugar factories). Ethanol contains oxygen, which provides a cleaner and more efficient combustion of the fuel. When used in vehicles, ethanol reduces carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming. Although burning ethanol still releases carbon dioxide during production and combustion, it is recycled by the crops that are used as raw material for the production of ethanol. This creates a cycle in which green house gases are used instead of being emitted into the environment. All motor vehicles manufactured since 1970 can run on E-10, a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. E-10, which does not require engine modifications, also significantly lowers carbon monoxide levels due to efficient and complete combustion of the fuel. E-85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% of neat gasoline, is not combustible with all motor vehicles. However, Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) can run on E-85. the major automakers have continued manufacturing FFV. Today, a number of countries produce and use a significant amount of ethanol and some countries are busy preparing and approving directives and programs to produce and use renewable energy sources. Brazil, France, Spain, Sweden, the United States of America, Indonesia, the Philippines, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Argentina, Thailand and India are some of the countries with government or private ethanol fuel programs. Pure ethanol can replace gasoline in modified Spark-Ignition engines or it can be blended with gasoline up to 20 percent concentration to fuel unmodified motor vehicles. Ethanol can also be used as house-hold cooking fuel directly or by blending with kerosene. The blend of ethanol and kerosene and/or pure ethanol can also be used as industrial energy source. A blend of ethanol and kerosene in equal proportion (K-50) is now being used by Tabor Ceramics Products Sh. Co., as energy source for Kilns. Different trials are on progress to substitute LPG and other light industrial fuels by pure ethanol and/or a blend of ethanol and kerosene.