Ethanol fuel is a sustainable energy resource that is intended to provide a more environmentally and economically friendly alternative to fossil fuels such as diesel and gasoline. Ethanol fuel is more energy-efficient than some experts had realised and it is time to start developing it as an alternative to fossil fuels, researchers say. Ethanol fuel can be used unmixed in an modified gasoline engine, but it is much more common to find an 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol fuel mixture. This mixture can be used directly in any gasoline engine. Ethanol fuel is also used as an oxygenate additive to gasoline. Fuel ethanol production in the European Union has not really taken off yet. However, it may do so in the next couple of years. The production of fuel ethanol was identified within some sections of the industry as one potential course to broaden the financial base and improve the sector's financial returns.