Using biofuels in New Zealand
Some New Zealand drivers are able to choose biofuel blends as an alternative to ordinary petrol and diesel to power their vehicles.
Biofuel blends first became available in New Zealand in August 2007. They are now available in many parts of the North Island.
Like petrol and diesel, any biofuel available for retail sale must meet New Zealand standards and specifications so you can be confident about its quality.
On this page:
Where can I buy biofuel blends?
Where can I buy biofuel blends?
The following organisations are currently retailing biofuel blends in New Zealand:
Quality assurance of biofuels
Any bioethanol and biodiesel blends available for retail sale in New Zealand must meet government regulated fuel specifications, in the same way ordinary petrol and diesel does.
In most cases, vehicles are able to use low-level blends of biofuels without any modification.
More information on specifications and regulations.
Biofuels and sustainability
Around the world, biofuels vary in the way they are produced, with differing impacts on climate change, the environment and people. New Zealand is working towards ensuring we only produce and access sustainable biofuels both today and in the future.
Sustainability is about reducing our impact on the environment to the point where we can keep doing the things we do indefinitely. When it comes to biofuels this means ensuring biofuels we use in New Zealand are produced using sustainable feedstocks and processes.
EECA recognises that not all biofuels are created equal, and we are working on sustainability reporting to ensure New Zealanders have the right information to enable them to choose sustainable biofuels.
In New Zealand, bioethanol blended petrol currently comes from two sustainable sources:
- Whey, a natural by-product of the dairy industry
- Brazilian sugarcane, grown in the south of Brazil. Brazilian sugarcane bioethanol is one of the most sustainable biofuels available.
Summary report on sustainability of Brazilian sugercane biofuel
Future biofuels
Internationally and in New Zealand, a lot of work is underway on the development of second generation biofuels (biofuels produced from wood, straw, waste products, etc).
First generation biofuels (produced from crops and agriculture) have an important role in renewable transport fuel development. However, second generation biofuels are being viewed as the way forward in the long term, with some ground-breaking work already well underway.
