[INTERVIEW] U.S. Grains Council urges Korea to accelerate use of bioethanol

Electric vehicles are good for reducing carbon footprint. But to power such vehicles, carbon dioxide is inevitable.

Josh Miller, chairman of U.S. Grains Council, speaks during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on the sidelines of the Seoul Mobility Show on March 30 at Kintex, Gyeonggi. [U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL]

Electric vehicles are good for reducing carbon footprint. But to power such vehicles, carbon dioxide is inevitable.

Josh Miller, chairman of U.S. Grains Council and a corn farmer in Indiana, believes bioethanol could be a solution.

“If Korea can mix just 10 percent of bioethanol into gasoline, it can reduce up to 3.1 million tons of carbon emissions every year,” said Miller during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on March 30 on the sidelines of the Seoul Mobility Show.

“We can’t remove all internal combustion engine vehicles from the roads at one time, and we need to consider what humans can do in the meantime,” Miller said. “Bioethanol is the most effective way to reduce carbon footprint while operating gasoline-powered cars.”

A gas pump that also offers bioethanol options in the United States [U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL]

Extracted from grains like sugarcane and corn, bioethanol is the most widely available source for a gasoline substitute. With no harmful substances, it has been commonly used in people’s daily lives such as in hand sanitizer and washer liquid.

Around 60 countries including the United States, Russia and China have actively been using bioethanol as a substitute for gasoline, but its use is restricted by law in Korea.

“We’re here at the Seoul Mobility Show to promote the necessity of bioethanol and closely communicate with the Korean government and related companies like automakers and oil refiners,” Miller continued.

It was Miller’s second time to attend Korea’s largest auto show, which runs from March 31 to April 8 at Kintex, Gyeonggi.

So far, Korea only allows biodiesel, which can be used in diesel-powered vehicles. Up to 3.5 percent of biodiesel content is allowed. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy aims to increase that to 8 percent by the end of 2030.

Bioethanol is the most widely available source for a gasoline substitute [U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL]

The Energy Ministry also announced that it will start a project using bioethanol in vehicles run by state-run companies starting in 2024.

But Miller says Korea should further accelerate its use.

“The United States already has an E10 regulation, which requires gasoline to have 10 percent of ethanol content,” Miller said. “Europe already has such a scheme by between 5 and 10 percent depending on countries, while Thailand up to 20 percent and China 10 percent."

Brazil is the world’s most active country in using bioethanol. Sugar cane-based ethanol fuel is expected to take over 75 percent of Brazil’s vehicle fuel market, with cars with 100 percent of ethanol already available.

“If Korea wants, the U.S. Grains Council is always welcome to share our related technology and data,” the chairman said.

“Carbon neutrality is one of the major focuses of our entire world,” Miller added. “It’s time for Korea to actively review imposing a regulation to require the usage of bioethanol, the resource that is proven to reduce carbon emissions.”

Grain farm in the United States [U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL]

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]