Bioethanol ≠ biodiesel

Bioethanol is not biodiesel. Both are biogenic fuels made from biomass, i.e. vegetation or vegetable waste, and are used to power internal combustion engines in vehicles. While bioethanol in Europe is mainly made from starch-rich cereals such as wheat and corn, or from concentrated sugar beet juice, biodiesel is made from plant-based oils, mainly rapeseed (in Europe). Bioethanol can be admixed to petrol or even substitute petrol after modifications have been made to an engine. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is modified to mirror diesel in terms of its properties.

Bioethanol	Biodiesel
Bioethanol is a fuel made from the fermentation of carbohydrate-rich biomass such as sugar and starch, and has an alcohol content of at least 99% by volume, making it practically water-free. Bioethanol can essentially be produced from any raw material that contains either sugar or starch. In Europe, the most important raw materials used to produce bioethanol include all crops containing starch, as well as concentrated sugar beet juice. In the USA, bioethanol is largely made from corn, while in tropical regions, particularly in Brazil, sugar cane has become the sole source of this fuel.	Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats. In Europe, biodiesel is made from rapeseed and from used cooking oil and animal fat. In other parts of the world, raw materials such as palm oil and soya are also used to produce biodiesel. In line with legal admixture obligations, biodiesel is added to diesel and sold as 100% biodiesel at filling stations throughout Austria.

Bioethanol

Biodiesel

Bioethanol is a fuel made from the fermentation of carbohydrate-rich biomass such as sugar and starch, and has an alcohol content of at least 99% by volume, making it practically water-free.

Bioethanol can essentially be produced from any raw material that contains either sugar or starch. In Europe, the most important raw materials used to produce bioethanol include all crops containing starch, as well as concentrated sugar beet juice. In the USA, bioethanol is largely made from corn, while in tropical regions, particularly in Brazil, sugar cane has become the sole source of this fuel.

Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats. In Europe, biodiesel is made from rapeseed and from used cooking oil and animal fat. In other parts of the world, raw materials such as palm oil and soya are also used to produce biodiesel.

In line with legal admixture obligations, biodiesel is added to diesel and sold as 100% biodiesel at filling stations throughout Austria.