Chemical company Ineos has revealed that it is aiming to produce commercial quantities of bioethanol fuel from biodegradable municipal waste in around two years. According to the company its new technology will produce bioethanol in large quantities from municipal solid waste, organic commercial waste and agricultural residues amongst other things.

Commenting on the announcement Peter Williams, Ineos Bio CEO, "In North America and Europe we will see around 10% or more of petrol being replaced with bioethanol. Our technology will make a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gases and the world's need for fossil fuels.

"Ineos Bio Ethanol releases up to 90% less net greenhouse gases than petrol. One tonne of dry waste can be converted into about 400 litres (100 gallons) of ethanol, which can either be blended with traditional fuels or replace them altogether, to substantially reduce vehicle emissions", he said.

Looking to the future Williams explained; "We expect to announce the location of the first commercial plant fairly shortly and we will aim to quickly roll out our technology around the world. We plan to be producing commercial amounts of bioethanol fuel for cars from waste within about two years."

The technology – already proven at pilot plant scale – uses a simple three-stage process. The waste is first superheated to produce gases. Then, through a patented process, the gases are fed to naturally occurring bacteria, which efficiently produce ethanol. Finally, the ethanol is purified to make the fuel ready to be blended for use in cars.

Peter Williams said, "The fact that we have been able to decouple second generation biofuel from food is a major breakthrough, and we expect our technology to provide cost competitive, sustainable, renewable fuels".

Dr Geraint Evans is the Technology Transfer Manager for the UK's National Non Food Crops Centre. He says: "This is a breakthrough in two areas. Technologically because we can use municipal solid waste. And commercially because we have the potential to produce large volumes of bioethanol viably across the world".