E10 roll-out across the nation
Ireland becomes the latest country to embrace the more environmentally friendly E10 fuel as the standard grade of petrol. Originally announced in February, Ireland is expected to see the changes take place this April, with the Government hoping it will reduce harmful emissions caused by petrol cars.
E10 is regular petrol but blended with up to 10 percent renewable ethanol, which is made up of low-grade grains, sugars and waste wood.
The current standard grade, E5 petrol, also contains ethanol, with the increased biofuel blend reducing the amount of carbon released.
The Irish Government has confirmed that a public information campaign will accompany the rollout to make drivers aware of the change, according to a report in the Daily Express.
E10 was first rolled out in England, Scotland and Wales in September 2021, with the Westminster Government praising the move to lower carbon output from fossil fuels.
The greener fuel was rolled out in Northern Ireland late last year to bring the country in line with the fuels used in the rest of the UK.
The move to E10 is one of several transport measures being introduced to achieve a 51 percent reduction in transport emissions by 2030 in Ireland.
Since 2009, E10 petrol has been commonplace across 15 European countries, as well as the USA and Australia.
Some countries have gone even further and introduced fuel which is made up from up to 85 percent ethanol (E85) including France and Sweden.
Eamon Ryan, Minister for Transport, said: “While there has seen a big uptake in EVs, we need to continue with measures that can have an immediate impact on emission from vehicles that are already on Irish roads.
“Measures such as moving to E10 petrol mean that we can reduce our emissions from transport further, move us closer to reaching our climate targets.
“It also means that we are in step with Northern Ireland, the UK and many other European countries who have already moved in this direction.”
According to the Government, Ireland’s car fleet is predominantly diesel, estimated to be around 63 percent at the end of last year.
