Survey Reveals ‘Avoidable’ Bubble Market for Bioethanol

// 31.01.2007

A survey conducted by Pavilion Technologies (Austin, TX), a process technology company, has identified key issues facing the bioethanol industry. The study, which questioned more than 2,500 drivers, found that while consumers are willing to use biofuels, they lack the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.

Pavilion conducted the survey “to see whether or not we were creating a bubble economy,” says Michael Tay, technical account manager at Pavillion. “There was unprecedented investment, to the tune of $850 million in venture capital money, in bioethanol,” Tay says.

At the current rate of ethanol capacity building, supply will outstrip demand in 1-2 years, Pavilion says. To realize the untapped demand, “stakeholders should invest in educating consumers and increasing the availability of ethanol blended fuel to bridge the expected supply and demand gap,” Pavilion says.

Source: ChemWeek