The recent decision by the UK government to lift tariffs on US bioethanol imports has sparked alarm bells across the country’s renewable energy and industrial gas sectors. Domestic producers like Vivergo Fuels and Ensus, which have invested heavily in the UK’s green energy transition, now face a significant threat from cheaper US imports that do not always meet the same environmental and sustainability standards.
But the issue isn’t just about market competition or local jobs. It’s about the integrity of the UK’s CO₂ supply chain, energy security, and long-term sustainability.
Why Bioethanol Matters for CO₂
In the UK, bioethanol production is closely tied to food-grade CO₂ generation. Plants produce CO₂ as a by-product when fermenting wheat into ethanol. This CO₂ is captured, purified, and used in:
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– Food and beverage carbonation
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– Meat processing and stunning
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– Modified atmosphere packaging
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– Healthcare (e.g., surgical tools sterilisation)
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– Greenhouse enrichment
If these plants shut down or reduce output due to being undercut by US imports, CO₂ production will fall sharply.
What’s at Risk: A CO₂ Crisis Déjà Vu?
We’ve been here before.
When CF Fertilisers (formerly Terra Fertilisers) suddenly shut down its ammonia plants in 2021 due to surging natural gas prices, it caused a nationwide CO₂ shortage. The government had to step in with emergency funding to restart production temporarily, but the damage was done:
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– Abattoirs suspended operations.
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– Beer and soft drinks faced production delays.
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– Fresh food supply chains experienced severe disruption.
The situation highlighted just how fragile and central CO₂ supply is to the UK’s critical infrastructure. Now, with bioethanol at risk, we’re heading toward a similar cliff edge—this time one that’s market-driven rather than energy-cost-driven.
Policy Blind Spot: Undermining Domestic Green Production
The UK government’s push for cheaper fuel via tariff-free US imports appears to contradict its Net Zero and energy security goals. American ethanol, often derived from corn and shipped across the Atlantic, comes with a higher carbon footprint than UK-sourced wheat ethanol.
Domestic plants like follow stringent sustainability standards and contribute significantly to the rural economy. Their closure would undermine years of investment in green jobs and circular economy infrastructure.
Why Biogas is the Sustainable, Secure Alternative
With the volatility in the bioethanol market and the historic unreliability of fertiliser-based CO₂ sources, the case for biogas has never been stronger. More than just an environmental solution, biogas offers superior energy security, operational resilience, and community integration.
Here’s why the future of the UK’s CO₂ supply is rooted in biogas:
1. Self-Powered and Energy Resilient
Most modern anaerobic digestion (AD) plants are self-sustaining, generating their own power using biomethane, a renewable gas produced during digestion. This means:
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Plants don’t rely on national grid energy or fossil fuels, reducing exposure to external energy price shocks.
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Operations can continue even during power disruptions or high-demand periods, offering a level of autonomy and continuity that fertiliser and ethanol plants simply don’t match.
This makes biogas plants not just green, but also operationally robust.
2. Locally Sourced Feedstocks = Strong Supply Chains
Unlike US ethanol which is shipped across oceans, UK biogas plants typically use locally sourced agricultural residues, food waste, and crops. This localized model ensures:
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Shorter, more resilient supply chains—no international trade bottlenecks or long-haul logistics.
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Tight integration with UK farmers—many AD plants are directly connected to farms, creating circular economies and boosting rural economies.
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Less competition with global food supply—feedstocks are often waste products or non-edible crops like maize silage or rye.
The result? A reliable and community-supported feedstock stream that can be managed proactively, unlike gas-reliant or grain-sensitive bioethanol plants.
3. Built-In Crop Contingency and Stockpiles
Many UK biogas operators have developed sophisticated crop contingency plans to handle seasonal variation or poor harvests. These include:
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On-site silage bunkers or clamps with years of feedstock stored in advance.
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Diversified input streams from organic waste, energy crops.
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Contracted supply agreements with local farms to guarantee consistent inputs, even during adverse weather or crop failure events. This level of planning gives biogas a major edge over bioethanol producers, who depend on consistent yields of high-quality wheat, and over CF-style ammonia plants that rely on volatile gas markets.
4. Environmentally and Economically Aligned
Biogas is not just a greener source of CO₂—it’s aligned with national policy goals:
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Net Zero 2050: Biogenic CO₂ from AD plants is part of the natural carbon cycle and can even deliver negative emissions when paired with carbon capture.
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Rural Development: AD plants provide farmers with secondary income, create local jobs, and support sustainable agriculture.
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Waste Circularity: They help reduce waste, and produce nutrient-rich digestate for use as fertiliser.
What This Means for Pro Gases UK Customers
As a bulk CO₂ supplier rooted in green principles, Pro Gases UK is already ahead of the curve by sourcing from biogas plants. Here’s how we’re helping customers weather market uncertainty:
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Food & Beverage: Ensuring food-grade biogenic CO₂ availability year-round, even when traditional sources face shutdowns.
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Greenhouses & Agriculture: Providing consistent supply to support yield growth, unaffected by bioethanol market volatility.
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Industrial Applications: Offering greener gas with better long-term pricing stability and carbon transparency.
The Road Ahead
If domestic bioethanol production continues to decline due to market distortion, the UK will become increasingly reliant on foreign CO₂ sources—a scenario that threatens price stability, environmental targets, and food security.
But there’s still time to pivot as a und user of CO2.
Biogas is not only the more sustainable choice—it’s the more secure one. At Pro Gases UK, we believe this transition isn’t just inevitable. It’s essential.
Want to secure your CO₂ supply? Contact Pro Gases UK today to discuss switching to biogenic CO₂ from trusted UK biogas producers.