While we all know that ethanol can do some serious damage to the fuel systems of some older vehicles no one ever told us that ethanol can do some serious damage to us humans but it seems that research at Stanford University has now shown that it can.

Even in the small quantities that we see in E10 ethanol can do serious damage to our health because, as it burns, it produces something called Aldehydes and these Aldehydes are precursors for the creation of ozone.

Burning normal fuel produces ozone but burning fuel mixed with ethanol produces even more and it can be enough to push the ozone levels at ground level beyond what is considered safe for humans. And in cold climates the amount of Aldehydes produced by burning E10 is increased considerably.

Currently the US considers that ozone levels of 75 parts per billion are safe for humans but burning ethanol in warm climates can increase the ozone levels down here on the ground by 7 parts per billion and in colder climates by a whopping 39 parts per billion

Of course ozone … when it’s kilometres above us in the ozone layer … is good for us. It filters out harmful rays from the sun and protects us but when it’s down here at ground level it can produce asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks and other cardio-pulmonary diseases.

Have we once again rushed in to safe the planet and only managed to do more harm than good?

You can read more about the study on the Stanford University website by following this link.

According to the Minister we shouldn’t be getting our hopes up about hybrid fuels and electric power either because the infrastructure needed to cope with a switch to alternate fuels just isn’t there. It’s unusual for any politician to paint such a grim picture without offering some hope of a magic wand that will cure all the hassles that fuel rationing will create so perhaps this is a message that is worth heeding.

I guess we can expect the cost of fuel to go on rising … in the UK yesterday it cost the equivalent of $A96 to fill the tank of a Mini.

The testing program, commissioned by the Australian Government and conducted by engineering firm Orbital Australia, focused on older vehicles listed by the FCAI as unsuitable for use with ethanol fuel blends.

On the basis of the study the Government recommends consumers continue to check the FCAI list for information on ethanol use in their vehicles.

“The information on FCAI’s website has been compiled with the participation of its members, representing almost all the motor vehicle brands sold in Australia,” said the Chief Executive of the FCAI, Peter Sturrock.

Mr Sturrock noted that Orbital Australia’s testing established that it would be inappropriate to allow five per cent ethanol E5 fuel to be sold unlabelled.

“The FCAI is pleased that the program has confirmed the suitability of the present fuel labeling arrangements,” he said.

The FCAI says it is essential that drivers of older vehicles equipped with carburetors check the vehicles’ fuel compatibility before using ethanol blends.

Motorists driving older fuel-injected vehicles would also be well advised to check the information on the FCAI website.

The FCAI confirms that all new Australian-made cars are suitable for 10 per cent enthanol blended petrol (E10) and that the vast majority of imported new cars sold in Australia are also compatible with E10 or E5.

“We welcome the results of the Government-commissioned testing program, which should give motorists absolute confidence in the information on ethanol suitability being provided by motor vehicle manufacturers,” said Mr Sturrock.

A full listing of the capability of various vehicle models to operate satisfactorily on ethanol blend petrol is available at www.fcai.com.au/ethanol

There is little doubt, when you think about it, that those who have access to the data would have known that this fuel crisis was coming. The economic boom in China and the consequent drain on the world’s dwindling fuel supplies should have been foreseen and our elected leaders should have been preparing for it.

Instead we seem to be bumbling along and struggling to keep up with changes we should have known about.

This latest offer is good, there is no doubt about that, but where is the infrastructure to support a sudden lurch towards LPG.?

Just have a look at how many LPG pumps your local service station has? Ask them what the capacity of their LPG tank is and then wonder where they can find room to fit more?

How many LPG tankers are there on the road? Will there be enough to meet the demand if there is a sudden rush to take advantage of the subsidy?

And what else is the Government going to do to encourage motorists to use alternatives to fossil fuels?

Queensland’s first commercial ‘Green’ diesel production facility opened its doors today at Narangba.

The Eco Tech Biodiesel Plant will have a production capability of 30 million litres of biodiesel per annum, growing to an additional capacity of 75 million litres once at full production.

Launching the new facility, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development, Trade and Innovation Anna Bligh said its establishment was a landmark for the future of Queensland’s sustainable, alternative fuels industry.

She said the Queensland Government was committed to the development of a renewable fuels industry, based upon ethanol and biodiesel, to help reduce the State’s reliance on petroleum.

“With growing consumer concern about climate change and the rising price of fuel and the world’s dwindling oil supplies, Queensland needs to position itself to develop a viable industry here that will meet demand while at the same time protecting our natural environment,” Ms Bligh said.

Biodiesel is made from natural renewable sources and is produced from a reaction of vegetable oil or animal fat mixed with alcohol and can be blended at almost any ratio with petroleum-based diesel. The most common blends are B5, a mix of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel and B20, a mix of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel is considered more environmentally friendly than petroleum diesel as it emits significantly less greenhouse gas, is biodegradable, non toxic and sulphur free.

“As the new Narangba plant uses tallow to produce its biodiesel, our meat industry will also be a big winner here,” Ms Bligh said.

“The plant will require 28,000 tonnes of tallow to meet its initial production demands, providing an important new opportunity for local tallow producers.”

Ms Bligh said the Government was currently in the process of developing an alternative fuels policy, which includes an Industry Action Plan for biodiesel.

“The alternative fuels policy and Biodiesel Industry Action Plan will build on the Government’s efforts to develop a State-based ethanol industry.

“As part of our $7.3 million dollar Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan, we recently launched a major marketing campaign to educate Queensland motorists about the benefits of using ethanol blended fuels and to dispel the many myths surrounding the use of ethanol.”

She said the Government was also backing biodiesel trials in Brisbane and on the SunshineCoast to examine its performance.

“Overseas, biodiesel is a big industry, with increasing demand in the United States and Europe. And growth in demand for diesel in Queensland is nearly twice that of petrol at around 4 percent per annum,” she said.

“Large diesel users, such as the mining, agriculture and road/rail freight industries, are particularly attractive markets for biodiesel.

“Biodiesel, particularly at higher level blends, is also an attractive fuel option for use in environmentally sensitive areas, like national parks and marine environments, due to is relative low toxicity and biodegradability.”

Eco Tech Bio Diesel is a joint venture between Australia’s largest independent petroleum producer, Gull Petroleum, and a group of independent businessmen.

The Western Australian-based Gull Petroleum was the first retailer in Australia to offer biodiesel to motorists.

Besides its new plant at Narangba, Gull also recently announced plans to develop a biodiesel facility in Western Australia.