In the South-West, it is possible to power your car with fuel produced from Landes pine. We explain.
Fuel is generally considered a non-renewable resource and should be used sparingly.
A surprising, more eco-friendly fuel
But this is changing, thanks to the rise of more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives. For example, for several weeks now, motorists in the South-West who fill up with petrol at an Esso station, whether it is E5, E10 or E85, may not be aware that they are using a fuel partly derived from a local and renewable material: Landes pine. Indeed, the American group Ryam (Rayonier Advanced Materials) launched the production of a second-generation bioethanol this year at its Tartas site, located in the Landes department. This biofuel is then sold to Esso, the French subsidiary of the oil giant ExxonMobil, to supply the service stations of New Aquitaine and Occitania. Ryam, which specializes in the production of wood cellulose for the chemical industry, has invested 37 million euros in this innovative project. The goal? To exploit a resource that has been neglected until now in the cellulose manufacturing process: the sugars contained in wood, particularly in lignin.
A clean and sustainable alternative
Traditionally, these sugars were lost or remained unexploited, but for the past three years, the company has sought to valorize them. This is how a new plant was built in Tartas, entirely dedicated to the production of second-generation bioethanol. Unlike first-generation biofuels, often derived from agricultural crops such as corn or beetroot, this type of bioethanol does not compete with food agriculture. In fact, it is made from residues or non-food materials, such as wood. The project officially took off last April, with the delivery of the first truck of bioethanol to ExxonMobil. The long-term goal is now to sell no less than 21 million liters per year. The bioethanol produced by Ryam helps reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles by partially replacing fossil fuels. According to the company’s estimates, the use of this biofuel could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Landes pine, which covers a large part of the department, therefore becomes an unexpected ally in this battle for greener fuel.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
