The UK’s first bioethanol plant has been officially opened today (22 November) by DEFRA food and farming minister Jeff Rooker.
The plant, which is located alongside British Sugar’s Wissington factory in Norfolk will produce 70 million litres of bioethanol annually from locally-grown sugar beet.
Production trials started at Wissington this September and the first batch of bioethanol was delivered to the UK market at the end of that month.
“Sustainable biofuels can play an important role in reducing our carbon footprint and I am pleased to see the UK is leading the way in promoting sustainable biofuel production,” Lord Rooker said.
“Climate change is the biggest challenge facing society today. But it is a challenge we can tackle by using the skills and innovation that are prevalent in the UK – this groundbreaking plant is a good example of this."
British Sugar chief executive Mark Carr said the bioethanol project demonstrated the firm’s ability to develop market opportunities and add-value.
“We are delighted to take the UK lead in this exciting new industry. Against a background of unprecedented change in the European sugar industry we are transforming our business.”
BS has also entered a joint venture with BP and DuPont to build a 420million litre bioethanol plant at Saltend, Hull. UK-grown wheat will be used to supply the plant and production is expected to come on stream in 2009.