Ethanol maker to be sold here

A CORK-BASED alternative energy company is in line to receive the first national licence for the private production of ethanol for everyday fuel purposes.

Blarney-based company Ecobiofuel, headed up by Kevin Kelleher, unveiled the MicroFueler, a US- made self-service ethanol producing machine which the company has exclusive distribution rights for in the Irish market, at the Energy Show in Dublin’s RDS earlier this week.

It is awaiting formal approval from various Government departments.

While a number of commercial fuel companies offer customers the ethanol option – which is cheaper than petrol and better for a car’s engine – the MicroFueler will be the first system allowing companies and motorists to produce their own fuel.

“This technology is environmentally sound, can save money and is easy to use. Ireland has an abundance of organic material that could be used to fuel their cars using this device,” Mr Kelleher said.

Ecobiofuel is looking to sell the machine – which measures around five feet by four foot with a depth of about two feet – to food and drink companies like Heineken, Tayto and Diago, before selling directly to consumers.

The idea is that 1,000 litres of organic waste (such as waste beer or potato starch) can result in 50 litres of ethanol to fuel delivery trucks and cars in a more eco-friendly and commercially viable alternative.

The MicroFueler has already become hugely popular in the US, since its establishment by entrepreneurs Tom Quinn and Floyd Butterfield.

“With the ever increasing price of oil, ethanol can become the most cost effective and sustainable source of fuel across Ireland,” Floyd Butterfield said helping the product’s launch here this week.