The world's biggest facility for biomethanol production opened in the Dutch city of Delfzijl on Thursday.

It is hoped that increased use of biofuels will reduce CO2 emission from car engines. The biomass used to make the second generation biofuels is no longer based on food crops but on organic waste, removing one of the main objections to the use of biofuels.

It's in your car
Few European drivers are probably aware that they are already burning biofuels. Up to four percent of normal petrol is biofuel, in accordance with an EU directive which came into force in 2005. The proportion will be stepped up to ten percent by 2020. The biofuel does not adversely affect the engine's performance. One biofuel is methanol, a colourless alcohol-like liquid described in chemical terms as CH3OH.

Dutch plant opens
Biofuel company BioMCN converted an old chemical plant, formerly owned by Dutch chemical giant DSM, into a production facility for biomethanol, which is suitable for mixing with traditional petrol and diesel fuel. Producing 250 million litres of methanol per year, it is claimed to be the largest such plant in the world. It opened on Thursday.

"There is a lot of demand, particularly because the fuel we make is produced sustainably," the company's director, Rob Voncken, told NOS TV. BioMCN is supplying a number of major oil companies, and Mr Voncken says he expects to be able to sell as much fuel as the plant can produce. Conveniently situated in the northern seaport city of Delfzijl, the produce can be shipped directly from the factory area to customers.

Peanut butter
The raw material for the process consists of organic waste, left after the manufacture of products such as soap and peanut butter. This contributes significantly to the biofuel's sustainability.

Energy researcher Sascha Kersten of Twente University explains that the Netherlands is well-placed for the biofuels industry: "The Netherlands has a big seaport [Rotterdam] which facilitates the import of the raw materials. We're good at refineries, we're good at logistics. These factors increase our chances of success in the biofuel market of the future."

(NOS, RNW, EU)