Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

Opposition spokesman on Energy, Mining and Telecommunications, Clive Mullings, is calling for a comprehensive study on the use of butanol as an alternative source of energy.

Butanol, or butyl alcohol, is an alcohol with a four-carbon structure, primarily used as a solvent, an intermediate in chemical synthesis, and as a fuel. It can be produced from biomass as well as fossil fuels.

It may be used as a fuel in an internal combustion engine and is considered to be more similar to gasolene than ethanol. Butanol has been demonstrated to work in some vehicles designed for use with gasolene without any modification.

Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum, held at the company's downtown Kingston offices yesterday, Mr. Mullings noted that ethanol yields only a 76 per cent equivalency of a full tank of gasolene, while butanol gives a 95 per cent equivalency.

No need for modification

"Ethanol requires new technology for the existing fleet but, with butanol, the existing fleet can utilise it so there is no need for modification," he explained. This, he said, could prove to be more cost effective.

While unable to state a cost for such a project, Mr. Mullings emphasised that the window for new technology in the energy sector must remain open.

However, he stressed that experiments with ethanol should continue.

When contacted yesterday, Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, said he was open to the suggestion made by the Shadow Minister.

"We are prepared to look at butanol ... the ministry will be asking the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica to look into this form of energy," Mr. Paulwell told The Gleaner.

However, he contends that the Government will be sticking to ethanol use in the near future.

"We have successfully completed the pilot project using ethanol. Come next year there will be a compulsory use of 10 per cent ethanol with the aim to get up to 25 per cent within two years," Mr. Paulwell said.

The date for the beginning of the islandwide use of ethanol will be announced next month. The pilot project for ethanol started in May of this year.

How does butanol compare with ethanol as an alternative fuel?

Butanol has many superior properties as an alternative fuel when compared to ethanol.

It is six times less 'evaporative' than ethanol and 13.5 times less evaporative than gasolene.

Butanol can be shipped through existing fuel pipelines where ethanol must be transported via rail, barge or truck.

Butanol can be used as a replacement for gasolene gallon for gallon (e.g., 100 per cent), or any other percentage. Ethanol can only be used as an additive to gasolene up to about 85 per cent and then only after significant modifications to the engine. Worldwide 10 per cent ethanol blends predominate.

- Research Information from www.butanol.com