If ever you needed a financial incentive to make biodiesel at home then the government can certainly be credited with making it more and more cost effective.
Bear in mind we are in the hight of an international recession and the UK government having already demonstrated its total inability to manage the economy has compounded this by demonstrating its out and out greed.
The last time I benchmarked the fuel price in the UK it was £1.11 per litre - of that 65% went to the government 56.2p in fuel duty and 16.7p in vat. Of course since then both fuel duty and vat have both been..........(unbelievably) INCREASED!
If you are sick of being robbed blind by these useless, unaccountable amateurs then I strongly suggest that you invest in a small biodiesel processor, switch to a diesel car and start making your own fuel because as far as I can see the price is only going to keep on going up at the pump.
You'll here all sorts of excuses coming from the muppets that "run" the country, it will no doubt include "responsible cuts and spending", "reducing the nations debt" and of course "the environment, carbon emissions" . All the usual hogwash to cover up the fact that they were reckless for 12 years of bad government and now need to squeeze every penny they can out of the population.
Making biodiesel might be about being green for some of you. For me its about being in control of my hard earned cash instead of having the governments hands in my pockets at every possible moment.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, September 18, 2008
How to Winter-Proof Your Biodiesel
Once again the leaves are turning brown and the temperatures are dropping which means that it’s time to start thinking about the impact on your biodiesel. I’m going to show you the quick, cheap and easy ways to stay out of trouble with biodiesel this winter.
As you know oils and fats gel and eventually solidify as the temperature falls. The more saturated the fat the worse it is. So animal based fats (tallows) are going to fur up pretty quickly, and any gelling means that you won’t be able to drive until you raise the temperature of the fuel.
Our fellows in the veg-oil camp have gotten round this for years with a simple in line heater to raise the temperature around their secondary veg oil tank and fuel line. For sure you can do this if you are running on biodiesel and those of you in the coldest states will already have access to plug-in systems that keep your auto warm when the snow is good and thick on the ground.
For the rest of us I offer the following strategies:
- Start by making your biodiesel from canola oil (sometimes called rape-seed oil) as canola has a much better gel point than any other oil.
- DON’T mess about with methanol or paraffin as an additive, it’s just not worth the risk. I have tried concentrations up to 25% in the past with very patchy results at best.
- Start by adding 20% regular diesel to your fuel (if you normally run B100) as the temperature drops increasing steadily to 50% if it gets really cold.
- Use the soda bottle n jerry can trick below.
- Use a proprietary additive.
OK this may sound a little childish but this is the trick that I have used to stay out of trouble over winter. Every time I put a batch of biodiesel in my auto I half fill a clear soda bottle with the same batch and leave it by the drivers door. When I come out in the morning I take a look at the soda bottle and if there is any gelling in the bottle I know I need to take action.
In the trunk I keep a 2 gallon jerry can of the best petro diesel money can buy which I simply add to the tank if there is any sign of gel in the soda bottle. So far this has kept me running BUT if the gelling in the soda bottle is severe then simply adding any additive won’t solve the problem – so you have been warned start blending early in the season and watch those weather forecasts!
A number of good commercial additives exist including the following:
· Wintron Synergy (I have seen this one in action and can vouch that it works well down to -10C)
· Arctic Express Biodiesel Antigel – good for treating B20 down to -40F
Only you can decide whether the cost and fuss of mixing these in is worth the hassle to you – as always I will continue to take the easy route and just add regular diesel!
I wish you a happy fall and winter motoring season.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Making Biodiesel Isn't Boring if you Have a Diesel Motorbike
Despite vast improvements in diesel engines over the years I still here people saying that they wouldn't have a diesel because they are so boring (i.e. slow and low performance) to drive.
Of course I have to take exception to that (a) because these days it simply isn't true and (b) of course I want people and society to reap the benefits of making biodiesel at home.
So I was delighted when quite by accident I discovered a whole new world of diesel motoring in the form of diesel motorcycles - yes you read that right, motorcycles with diesel engines. I quickly found dozens of suppliers of these fine machines :
This is the Sommer, but Diesel Bikes lists dozens of suppliers of diesel bikes of every shape and size your heart could desire.
And yes of course these bikes will run on biodiesel blends as high as 80%. Typically the bikes run Yanmar diesels displacing just over 400cc which means a power output of around 8kw or upto 15 bhp although some 1 litre examples are available and options such as inter-cooled turbochargers add even more fund to the mix.
If you make your own biodiesel then you'll find your $1 a gallon home-made fuel goes a very long way indeed with bikes demonstrating well over 100mpg! The Somer above delivers 117mpg on average along with classic looks that will leave most weak at the knees.
OK on a standard bike you may not ever win a MotoGP or even come close but then again with the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and 117+ miles to the gallon under your right hand - do you really care?
Of course I have to take exception to that (a) because these days it simply isn't true and (b) of course I want people and society to reap the benefits of making biodiesel at home.
So I was delighted when quite by accident I discovered a whole new world of diesel motoring in the form of diesel motorcycles - yes you read that right, motorcycles with diesel engines. I quickly found dozens of suppliers of these fine machines :
This is the Sommer, but Diesel Bikes lists dozens of suppliers of diesel bikes of every shape and size your heart could desire.And yes of course these bikes will run on biodiesel blends as high as 80%. Typically the bikes run Yanmar diesels displacing just over 400cc which means a power output of around 8kw or upto 15 bhp although some 1 litre examples are available and options such as inter-cooled turbochargers add even more fund to the mix.
If you make your own biodiesel then you'll find your $1 a gallon home-made fuel goes a very long way indeed with bikes demonstrating well over 100mpg! The Somer above delivers 117mpg on average along with classic looks that will leave most weak at the knees.
OK on a standard bike you may not ever win a MotoGP or even come close but then again with the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and 117+ miles to the gallon under your right hand - do you really care?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Why “The cost of fuel will continue to rise” is a lie – and why it means you must start making your own fuel at home.
It seems like every day now I read or here somewhere some luminary saying that no matter what the cost of fuel will continue to rise. The fact is that’s a lie. Let me qualify that; I can say for certain that the cost of fuel does not have to rise, it’s a choice.
Since the summer the fuel you buy at the pump whether gasoline or diesel is blended 5% with biofuel – ethanol in the case of gasoline and biodiesel in the case of diesel. As part of the governments plan this will be progressively increased over the coming years to 20%.
Simply put that means that 20% of the fuel that goes into your tank will not be dependant on the price of fossil oil. But will that mean that the cost of the fuel you put in your tank goes down by 20%. Sadly no. In fact you’ll be lucky if it just stays the same.
Why? Afterall biofuel is cheap and easy to make. It can be made locally from local waste products removing transpostation costs and waste processing costs. Duty on biofuel is discounted – so why won’t the price of fuel go down like it should?
Your government has a vested intrest in maintaining the cost of fuel – it is one of the highest reliable tax earners in the governments arsenal. They know that after a century of promoting private car ownership and use they have created a captive market of fuel users. We have followed their advice and built our career choices, social lives and family lives around the automobile and the fuel it runs on.
Fuel Duty in the
Why else do you imagine with two viable, long range performance electric cars now available from two manufacturers (the UK Lightning and the US Tesla) that the government hasn’t leapt into action to promote the technologies they have developed, to subsidise their manufacture to ensure that we all drive clean green machines? Because with your garage roof covered in solar cells and a usable electric car in the garage you don’t have to pay them a bean!
So instead the government will continue to charge up to 117% tax on fuel - regardless of what actually goes into your tank.
Fortunately whatever side of the atlantic you are on there IS something you can do about it. You can make biodiesel at home, you can even make ethanol at home. All the equipment you need can be purchased or assembled from £200/$400 upwards, the consumable supplies easily ordered online and the process in each case takes no more than a couple of hours in the weekend. The government even sanctions home production tax free (because they know most people won’t bother).
However unless you make biodiesel or make ethanol at home you are surrendering your self to a future or spiralling fuel costs, 85% of which will be government tax.
And consider this; the average cost of homemade biodiesel and ethanol is around £1/$2 per gallon, which if you do some simple napkin maths means Joe Average could easily save £2000 / $4000 per year, every year, and that’s just the average value.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Don't Beat up Oil Companies over the Price of Fuel - Make Your Own Instead
I have to say every time I read a "letter to the editor" suggesting that the oil companies are profiteering at the expense of the common man it makes me furious.
Just once I wish the tabloid press would publish a front page frank and open article about where the profit in oil and gas production is going in this country. I should point out that when I say this country I mean the UK as that is where I find myself these days but don't panic I'll write on the US situation in the next article.
Lets take a quick look at taxation on oil production in the UK; the government here charges oil companies -
What can you do about it? For a start you can make your own fuel, at home for $1 a gallon. The UK government classes 2500 litres a year as tax free domestic production and in any case it would be all but impossible to police home production of fuel.
If you use petrol you can convert domestic and supermarket vegetable and fruit waste into alcohol with sugar yeast and brewing enzymes and distill it into ethanol.
I estimate from my own home production that the average person should have no problem in producing 60 litres of biodiesel and 10 litres of ethanol every week in less than 2 hours of direct effort for around a $1 a gallon - enough to save over $4000 a year in fuel costs!
Just once I wish the tabloid press would publish a front page frank and open article about where the profit in oil and gas production is going in this country. I should point out that when I say this country I mean the UK as that is where I find myself these days but don't panic I'll write on the US situation in the next article.
Lets take a quick look at taxation on oil production in the UK; the government here charges oil companies -
- licensing (in the millions of dollars and time limited i.e. for "x" months) to explore for oil
- Petroleum Revenue Tax (PRT a special tax just for this sector on 50% of profits)
- Ring Fence Corporation Tax (RFCT a 30% tax)
- Supplementary Charge on RFCT (an additional 10% tax added in 2002)
- 65p ($1.30) per litre fuel duty
- 17.5% sales tax
What can you do about it? For a start you can make your own fuel, at home for $1 a gallon. The UK government classes 2500 litres a year as tax free domestic production and in any case it would be all but impossible to police home production of fuel.
If you use petrol you can convert domestic and supermarket vegetable and fruit waste into alcohol with sugar yeast and brewing enzymes and distill it into ethanol.
I estimate from my own home production that the average person should have no problem in producing 60 litres of biodiesel and 10 litres of ethanol every week in less than 2 hours of direct effort for around a $1 a gallon - enough to save over $4000 a year in fuel costs!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Crazy European Biodiesel Race
Hey there Biodiesel fans. I'm delighted to announce that a crazy Brit and his girlfriend have just announced a crazy biodiesel fuelled rally across Europe from the UK to Greece (..or is that grease...?)
Up to 20 entrants so far (and if you hurry you can still join them) will be driving 10+ year old diesels, many of them with 100,000+ miles on the clock from one side of the continent to the other.
But here's the thing - THEY MAKE THEIR OWN FUEL AS THEY GO!!!
No I'm serious! Each team has their own biodiesel processor in the back of the car/van/whatever; when they stop at the end of the day they go scavenging for used oil set up their processor and let it run overnight so they can refuel in the morning for the next days rallying!
Till next time.
Mike
Up to 20 entrants so far (and if you hurry you can still join them) will be driving 10+ year old diesels, many of them with 100,000+ miles on the clock from one side of the continent to the other.
But here's the thing - THEY MAKE THEIR OWN FUEL AS THEY GO!!!
No I'm serious! Each team has their own biodiesel processor in the back of the car/van/whatever; when they stop at the end of the day they go scavenging for used oil set up their processor and let it run overnight so they can refuel in the morning for the next days rallying!
Follow the greenest and grubbiest banger challenge ever. Start your diesel engines for the summer drive to the beaches of Greece, powered by waste cooking fat scavengened from restaurants and burger bars en-route.
Yes, they’ll be filling the tanks from chip fryers and schnitzel shops all the way down through Europe.
The challenge is to "Fat-Find" your way from the UK to the Mediterranean without using fossil fuels, and The Golden Lard Award awaits those that make it all the way on waste vegetable oil. Some teams will be running on pure grease, while others will be brewing up biodiesel from they fat they find on the way.
The 2-week trip, departs on August 16th: Diesel cars don't need to be converted to take part but it will be an advantage if they are.
2008 is the first time this has been attempted, and all fat-finding novices and pioneers are welcome.
If you can't join them for the entire trip then go and see them off from the Ace Cafe, North London on the 16th at 4pm and join us for the Sausage Smoke Cruise, through London following the Thames.
Or follow their insanity at www.fatfinding.com
I don't know about you but I'M IMPRESSED! Look if these guys can pull it off making biodiesel on the road then ANYONE can start making biodiesel at home, right??Till next time.
Mike
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Making Biodiesel is Better & Cheaper than Using the Train
So I'm in the UK for a while as most of you know - and why not, it's one country where the government sure does like to tax the hell out of the automobile owner and especially their fuel.
Heck did you know that in the UK a US Gallon of Gas would cost $3.41 for the gas itself, plus $4.92 in government "fuel duty" (a tax), PLUS 17.5% sales tax on top!! What's that, about $10 a US gallon?!
Oh and that's just Gas by the way, Diesel is nearly 20% more expensive!!!!!
Anyhoo, I digress from my origonal story. I'm also a motorbike nut (and with the cost of gas in the UK you need to be......ok ok I know enough already) so I've been scouting around for a particular British bike I want, a Triumph.
I was lucky enough to find one, but at the other end of the country about 180 miles away according to my UK mapping software. So I jumped in the car which as it happens was empty, as an experiment I went to the local gas station and filled up. The total cost of the diesel was $150 or there abouts.
Driving the 180 miles (pretty fast I'll admit) used less than half a tank. I bought the bike ( a real piece of sex on two wheels I might add) and rode it home.
So the next day of course I have to take the train to collect the car. The cost of the simple, cheapest, 1 way ticket for the journey? Can you believe this? $125!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then of course I have to shell out $10 in cab fare from the station, so $130 in all for the same journey using public transportation. That's damn nearly $1 a mile.
Now the simple fact is WORST case scenario I can make my own biodiesel for $3 a US Gallon and BEST case I can get it down to just $1. My car will hold 10 UK Gallons thats 8.3 US Gallons, so a full tank of home made fuel will cost me between $8 and $25 and take me 440 miles.
Now I know I end most of my posts with the same childish rant these days but it's only because I want to save you guys from yourselves - BUY a biodiesel guide, MAKE a simple processor using a tea urn like I showed you last time - START MAKING BIODIESEL AT HOME.
Till next time.
Heck did you know that in the UK a US Gallon of Gas would cost $3.41 for the gas itself, plus $4.92 in government "fuel duty" (a tax), PLUS 17.5% sales tax on top!! What's that, about $10 a US gallon?!
Oh and that's just Gas by the way, Diesel is nearly 20% more expensive!!!!!
Anyhoo, I digress from my origonal story. I'm also a motorbike nut (and with the cost of gas in the UK you need to be......ok ok I know enough already) so I've been scouting around for a particular British bike I want, a Triumph.
I was lucky enough to find one, but at the other end of the country about 180 miles away according to my UK mapping software. So I jumped in the car which as it happens was empty, as an experiment I went to the local gas station and filled up. The total cost of the diesel was $150 or there abouts.
Driving the 180 miles (pretty fast I'll admit) used less than half a tank. I bought the bike ( a real piece of sex on two wheels I might add) and rode it home.
So the next day of course I have to take the train to collect the car. The cost of the simple, cheapest, 1 way ticket for the journey? Can you believe this? $125!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then of course I have to shell out $10 in cab fare from the station, so $130 in all for the same journey using public transportation. That's damn nearly $1 a mile.
Now the simple fact is WORST case scenario I can make my own biodiesel for $3 a US Gallon and BEST case I can get it down to just $1. My car will hold 10 UK Gallons thats 8.3 US Gallons, so a full tank of home made fuel will cost me between $8 and $25 and take me 440 miles.
Now I know I end most of my posts with the same childish rant these days but it's only because I want to save you guys from yourselves - BUY a biodiesel guide, MAKE a simple processor using a tea urn like I showed you last time - START MAKING BIODIESEL AT HOME.
Till next time.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
How to Make Biodiesel at Home with a simple Machine you can put together for less tha $200!
This is an excerpt from the Ultimate Biodiesel Guide 2008 (www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com):
One of the main objections I get from people when I talk to then about making biodiesel at home is that it takes a lot of fancy equipment and that it's expensive to get started. They've usually had a look on the web and found biodiesel processors like the FuelMeister and so on which cost upwards of $2000 dollars.
Now I know that with gas getting more expensive it's easier to justify spending money to make your own fuel but even so $2000 is $2000 bucks.
But what if you could put together a small processor for home use for less than $200, one that was small enough to run in your workshop? What if it required no welding, no mechanical skill, was safe reliable and easy to use? (..and this works for any country by the way..)
The good news is that I faced the same challenges when I started out. I'm no DIY exert I can tell you, and I sure as heck didn't have $2000 to spend. In the end the solution was simple....and here it is:
What the heck is it?
For the uninitiated this is called a "catering urn" - enter that into your search engine or ebay and you'll find you can pick these up for about $100 or less! Basically catering operations use these to keep up to 60 litres of water hot for tea and coffee at big events.
What's so Good about it?
To make biodiesel you need a reaction chamber that you can heat the oil in and add the methoxide to. That's exactly what this Urn is! It has a built in heating element, it even has a tap for easy draining!
Add to that it's stainless steel so it will handle the temperature and it's easy to clean. It's discreet, it's compact, it comes in a variety of capacities from 5 litres to 60 litres. It's just as safe as a "store bought" processor (maybe more safe....it's not plastic so it can't melt for a start).
Of course you will need some extra bits and pieces to complete your setup, a thermometer, something to stir the oil, some jerry cans for oil, biodiesel and methoxide etc etc. However there is no reason why you can't put together everything you need for $200 MAX.
So.........what's your excuse now for not making biodiesel at home?
All the best
Mike
One of the main objections I get from people when I talk to then about making biodiesel at home is that it takes a lot of fancy equipment and that it's expensive to get started. They've usually had a look on the web and found biodiesel processors like the FuelMeister and so on which cost upwards of $2000 dollars.
Now I know that with gas getting more expensive it's easier to justify spending money to make your own fuel but even so $2000 is $2000 bucks.
But what if you could put together a small processor for home use for less than $200, one that was small enough to run in your workshop? What if it required no welding, no mechanical skill, was safe reliable and easy to use? (..and this works for any country by the way..)
The good news is that I faced the same challenges when I started out. I'm no DIY exert I can tell you, and I sure as heck didn't have $2000 to spend. In the end the solution was simple....and here it is:
What the heck is it?
For the uninitiated this is called a "catering urn" - enter that into your search engine or ebay and you'll find you can pick these up for about $100 or less! Basically catering operations use these to keep up to 60 litres of water hot for tea and coffee at big events.
What's so Good about it?
To make biodiesel you need a reaction chamber that you can heat the oil in and add the methoxide to. That's exactly what this Urn is! It has a built in heating element, it even has a tap for easy draining!
Add to that it's stainless steel so it will handle the temperature and it's easy to clean. It's discreet, it's compact, it comes in a variety of capacities from 5 litres to 60 litres. It's just as safe as a "store bought" processor (maybe more safe....it's not plastic so it can't melt for a start).
Of course you will need some extra bits and pieces to complete your setup, a thermometer, something to stir the oil, some jerry cans for oil, biodiesel and methoxide etc etc. However there is no reason why you can't put together everything you need for $200 MAX.
So.........what's your excuse now for not making biodiesel at home?
All the best
Mike
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Is Making Biodiesel Better than Public Transport?
Well here I am in the UK. This is a country that really taxes the car owner and tries to brow beat the general public into using public transport - especially in major cities. It's a growing trend accross modern western socieites.
But is it right? Should you be looking to sell your car and take the bus?
Maybe my own experience in one of the UKs biggest cities will help provide the answer. I was in Birmingham, to watch a game of cricket (well it IS England). I should emphasise that this was a match scheduled months in advance, the numbers of attendees were known in advance, and the city itself spends over $240 Million each year on Transport.
After the match I joined the thousands of fans seeking a way back to the centre of town to catch trains etc home.The stadium sits at the cross roads of two major roads each with bus stops every few hundred yards.
So I stood at the nearest stop with about 100 other people, in the pouring rain (well it IS England) and watched in horror as not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 4 double decked buses passed right by with "out of service" signs. Then a 5th went through the intersection north/south also marked out of service.
But is it right? Should you be looking to sell your car and take the bus?
Maybe my own experience in one of the UKs biggest cities will help provide the answer. I was in Birmingham, to watch a game of cricket (well it IS England). I should emphasise that this was a match scheduled months in advance, the numbers of attendees were known in advance, and the city itself spends over $240 Million each year on Transport.
After the match I joined the thousands of fans seeking a way back to the centre of town to catch trains etc home.The stadium sits at the cross roads of two major roads each with bus stops every few hundred yards.
So I stood at the nearest stop with about 100 other people, in the pouring rain (well it IS England) and watched in horror as not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 4 double decked buses passed right by with "out of service" signs. Then a 5th went through the intersection north/south also marked out of service.
So let me ask you this; if a major city with $240M to spend on transport can't organise enough buses at a known location at a known time for a known number of people - what chance is there for any town?
When you consider that the alternative is to jump into your own warm, comfortable car, parked just round the corner, and drive straight home on clean fuel that you made your self for a few dollars a tankfull - what are you going to do?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Join the Biodiesel Revolution...
With the price at the pump rising by nearly a penny a week now is the time for ordinary people to join the biodiesel revolution - and I don't mean buying the stuff!
For just $200 in second hand parts and with no assembly required (so no mechanical skill needed....) you can put together a simple but effective biodiesel processor that you can operate from home making 30-40 litres of clean cheap fuel at a time.
I took a look at the VW Bluemotion2 this week. Ok I know it's not many peoples idea of a hot auto BUT....it looks good, it sounds good, it drives really nicely, and best of all - it gives a genuine 70 miles to the gallon of diesel. I'm guessing based on past experience that that will equate to between 65 and 75 miles to the allon of biodiesel.
So.....if you put together my little biodiesel processor (I can say build or assemble even because there is none of that to do) and had one of these VW Polo BlueMotion cars you could make enough fuel at home to travel 1950 miles every week.
Viva the revolution people!
Mike C
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Biodiesel - Whether you Want it or Not!
From April something new will be appearing in your fuel pump. There will be no visible difference to the eye, there has only been limited publicity and the chances are your local petrol station will not even be inclined to tell you what is happening.
In a bid to tackle carbon emissions from cars, the EU has introduced the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation. It stipulates that all petrol sold in the UK must include at least 2.5 per cent biofuels, rising to 5 per cent by 2010.
What are biofuels?
Biofuels are a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. To classify, the fuel must be made from biological materials, for example biodiesel is made from processed vegetable oils such as soya bean oil.
They are renewable fuels because in the case of plants they absorb carbon dioxide during their growth. So when burnt they are merely releasing what they have already absorbed. In effect, they are carbon neutral.
All cars can cope with a blend of up to 5 per cent biofuels without any modifications to the engine. Some specially designed models on the market can now take a blend containing up to 85 per cent biofuel.
Production of biofuels has soared in recent years as countries look for alternatives to oil, which has become increasingly expensive and whose supply is heavily dependent on politically unstable regions, such as the Middle East.
However, as countries like the United States and Brazil have turned from growing corn or sugar for food to using it to produce ethanol, it has had a devastating side effect; food prices have been going up.
Food wars
Food wars
The more land farmers give over to producing energy crops the more food prices are pushed up by falling supplies of key crops. The issue is particularly acute in the Americas where at least a quarter of the US corn crop and more than half of Brazil's sugar cane crop is used for ethanol production.
Deforestation
The biggest concern of environmentalists is that as crops such as palm or soya bean become the new oil so more Asian and South American countries will be tempted to clear rainforests to grow them. Then not only would biodiversity-rich landscape be lost but also trees that absorbed vast quantities of carbon dioxide and helped reduce global carbon emissions.
Although recognising the benefits biofuels offer as an alternative to fossil fuels, many environmentalists now question whether we should be pushing ahead with adding them to our petrol just yet.
Friends of the Earth claim a recent poll found that almost 9 out of 10 Britons had no idea that biofuels were about to be added to their petrol. They argue that more resources should be put into making vehicles more fuel efficient and improving public transport.
“Most people will be horrified to know the Government is putting biofuels in our petrol when the damage they do to forests could make climate change worse,” said Friends of the Earth biofuels campaigner, Kenneth Richter. “People want to see real green transport solutions that will make a difference to their lives - like better public transport and smarter cars that burn less fuel,” he added.
Will the cost of Fuel go Down Then?
Absolutely not! Despite that fact that biodiesel can be mass produced cheaply from industrial waste and ethanol can be cheaply imported or produced locally you, the consumer, will not see one penny reduction in cost. So just as I predicted previously, it's not about the cost of oil at all, it's about the government putting their hand in your pocket for tax revenue on commodities they know you cannot live without.
Conclusion
The ONLY and I repeat ONLY way to escape this taxation trap is to make your own fuel! For a modest investment you can quietly make your own fuel in your shed for a few pennies a litre. You have been warned, stay keen stay green!
“Most people will be horrified to know the Government is putting biofuels in our petrol when the damage they do to forests could make climate change worse,” said Friends of the Earth biofuels campaigner, Kenneth Richter. “People want to see real green transport solutions that will make a difference to their lives - like better public transport and smarter cars that burn less fuel,” he added.
Will the cost of Fuel go Down Then?
Absolutely not! Despite that fact that biodiesel can be mass produced cheaply from industrial waste and ethanol can be cheaply imported or produced locally you, the consumer, will not see one penny reduction in cost. So just as I predicted previously, it's not about the cost of oil at all, it's about the government putting their hand in your pocket for tax revenue on commodities they know you cannot live without.
Conclusion
The ONLY and I repeat ONLY way to escape this taxation trap is to make your own fuel! For a modest investment you can quietly make your own fuel in your shed for a few pennies a litre. You have been warned, stay keen stay green!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Clean Green Tuk Tuk?
I'm still over in Thailand looking at the positive effect that the demand for biodiesel is having on previously poor farmers out here. With the price for raw palm oil rising steadily there's a little more money to go around down here - and that's no bad thing.
I wrote a few weeks ago about the use of LPG however I was in for an even bigger shock which only hit home this week. Check out the picture below:
See that big organge canister below that Tuk Tuk? Guess what.......yup thats LPG. Every single Tuk Tuk I have seen in Thailand uses LPG as its fuel! Vehicles once notorious for noise and pollution all run on cleaner greener fuel.
The Thai government has been smart enough to keep duty on LPG ultra low to encourage its use, as a result even in a hot and busy city of 10 million people like Bangkok you don't end up drowning in smog.
Compare that to the UK where duty(tax) on LPG is being increased 0.35p ABOVE the rate of increases in petrol and diesel duty! Add to that the average $3000 dollar conversion cost and you need to be doing starship milage to reap and kind of decent ROI.
How long can we continue to call these countries "third world" when it is clearly they and not us who are driving genuinely green agendas?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
UK Government Rips off Motorists Again
If you ever needed a good reason to start making your own biodiesel in your back yard just take a look at what the UK government are doing to their motorists - and take heed America because you're next!
The UK government have just announced that they are going to add another 2p a litre of TAX. The chancellor says its an important part of their "green" credentials!! Edmund King threw his personal credibility on the fire by saying that "fuel price instability is largely influenced by the market."
I was outraged to read a news feed that stated: "Motorists can expect more pain after oil prices in New York reached a record high of more than 109 US dollars a barrel on Tuesday."
What utter nonesense! Hogwash! Rubbish! Utter LIES!!
I'm sat in Thailand today where the price at the pump for 98 grade fuel is 35 Baht a litre, that's 56 British pence or about $1. I checked with the local government rep here and NO the Thais don't source their oil from a magic fairy in the mountains, they buy it from the same places we all do, in dollars like everyone else.
The inconvenient TRUTH, is that 85% of the cost of fuel in the UK is TAX. It's an easy source of revenue for the government who know we can't do without it. Hiding behind the word "green" is just a pathetic insult to our intelligence.
- sorry I need to amend this with the following note: Note: in the UK, Value Added Tax (VAT), currently at 17.5%, is also charged on the price of the fuel and on the duty. At a pump price of 100p/litre (typical for unleaded as at November 2007), this would put the combined tax at 65.24p/litre, or approximately USD$4.84 per gallon. (Thus without tax, the retail price would be 34.76p per litre, making a combined tax rate of 188%.
You have been told. Buy a diesel car. Quietly make your own fuel in the shed. Stop taking the shaft from politicians (who by the way get a generous fuel allowance paid for by you the tax payer).
The UK government have just announced that they are going to add another 2p a litre of TAX. The chancellor says its an important part of their "green" credentials!! Edmund King threw his personal credibility on the fire by saying that "fuel price instability is largely influenced by the market."
I was outraged to read a news feed that stated: "Motorists can expect more pain after oil prices in New York reached a record high of more than 109 US dollars a barrel on Tuesday."
What utter nonesense! Hogwash! Rubbish! Utter LIES!!
I'm sat in Thailand today where the price at the pump for 98 grade fuel is 35 Baht a litre, that's 56 British pence or about $1. I checked with the local government rep here and NO the Thais don't source their oil from a magic fairy in the mountains, they buy it from the same places we all do, in dollars like everyone else.
The inconvenient TRUTH, is that 85% of the cost of fuel in the UK is TAX. It's an easy source of revenue for the government who know we can't do without it. Hiding behind the word "green" is just a pathetic insult to our intelligence.
- sorry I need to amend this with the following note: Note: in the UK, Value Added Tax (VAT), currently at 17.5%, is also charged on the price of the fuel and on the duty. At a pump price of 100p/litre (typical for unleaded as at November 2007), this would put the combined tax at 65.24p/litre, or approximately USD$4.84 per gallon. (Thus without tax, the retail price would be 34.76p per litre, making a combined tax rate of 188%.
You have been told. Buy a diesel car. Quietly make your own fuel in the shed. Stop taking the shaft from politicians (who by the way get a generous fuel allowance paid for by you the tax payer).
Saturday, February 02, 2008
First GREEN Passenger Jet Takes to the Air
The world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, has become the first commercial plane to fly on "green" liquid fuel made from natural gas, rather than crude oil.
The super-plane, taller than five double decker buses and the width of a football pitch, took off from the UK to France using a synthetic fuel, developed using Gas to Liquid (GTL) technology.
The plane, which seats 555 passengers, left Airbus' UK headquarters in Filton, Bristol at 11.30am on Friday morning for a three-hour test flight to Toulouse.
Sjoerd Post, vice president of Shell Aviation, which developed the fuel, said that he hoped the plane would eventually run on even greener bio-fuels made from sustainable plant matter.
More News
But according to projections released by Airbus today that would be by 2020 at the earliest.
Mr Post said: "After more than 30 years of development and a decade of operations, we are now building, together with Qatar Petroleum, the world scale Pearl GTL plant in Qatar.
"In our drive for cleaner fuels, GTL technology can help reduce local emissions and encourage sustainable mobility."
Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders said: "Our alternative fuels roadmap requires innovation, diversity of ideas and options that needs to be explored."This takes bold cross-industry and cross-border collaboration. That's what we are showing today with our groundbreaking first test flight with alternative fuels. It is part and parcel of Airbus' commitment to providing leadership as an eco-efficient enterprise."
Sebastien Remy, head of Airbus's alternative fuels programme said: "The age of easy energy is over." He said GTL was better than traditional kerosene jet fuel because it did not deplete the world's oil supply, produced less emissions of local pollutants like carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and was virtually free of sulphur.
The super-plane, taller than five double decker buses and the width of a football pitch, took off from the UK to France using a synthetic fuel, developed using Gas to Liquid (GTL) technology.
The plane, which seats 555 passengers, left Airbus' UK headquarters in Filton, Bristol at 11.30am on Friday morning for a three-hour test flight to Toulouse.
Sjoerd Post, vice president of Shell Aviation, which developed the fuel, said that he hoped the plane would eventually run on even greener bio-fuels made from sustainable plant matter.
More News
But according to projections released by Airbus today that would be by 2020 at the earliest.
Mr Post said: "After more than 30 years of development and a decade of operations, we are now building, together with Qatar Petroleum, the world scale Pearl GTL plant in Qatar.
"In our drive for cleaner fuels, GTL technology can help reduce local emissions and encourage sustainable mobility."
Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders said: "Our alternative fuels roadmap requires innovation, diversity of ideas and options that needs to be explored."This takes bold cross-industry and cross-border collaboration. That's what we are showing today with our groundbreaking first test flight with alternative fuels. It is part and parcel of Airbus' commitment to providing leadership as an eco-efficient enterprise."
Sebastien Remy, head of Airbus's alternative fuels programme said: "The age of easy energy is over." He said GTL was better than traditional kerosene jet fuel because it did not deplete the world's oil supply, produced less emissions of local pollutants like carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and was virtually free of sulphur.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
5 Years to Biodiesel Powered Jet Airlines
I'd bet good money that we are just 5 years away from major airlines runnig their aircraft on clean, green, renewable, biodiesel.
Why? Well aviation history was made earlier this week in the high desert at the Reno-Stead Airport when an L-29 military aircraft piloted by Carol Sugars and Douglas Rodante succeeded in completing the world’s first jet flight powered solely by 100% biodiesel fuel. The Czechoslovakian-made aircraft is rated to fly on a variety of fuels including heating oil, making it the preferred platform for testing biodiesel in jet engines.
The experimental test flights were conducted starting with a blend of jet fuel and biodiesel. The engine data was measured and the performance was evaluated and found acceptable for continued use, eventually resulting in the landmark flight using 100% renewable biodiesel fuel. According to Chief Pilot Carol Sugars who wrote and conducted the test program, “As we gradually increased the amount of biodiesel in the fuel blend, the data confirmed that the aircraft continued to perform well, giving me the confidence to transition to 100% biodiesel.” Flight tests were conducted up to an altitude of 17,000 feet showing no significant difference in performance compared to conventional jet fuel.
“This test program between Green Flight International and Biodiesel Solutions was a unique and exciting opportunity to show what can be done in renewable fuels.” said Rudi Wiedemann, president of Biodiesel Solutions. “The very idea of using 100% biodiesel to fly a jet aircraft makes a compelling statement about the possibilities for the future of renewable energy and a healthier planet.”
Out of concern for our global environment, Green Flight International was conceived by Douglas Rodante in April 2006 to serve as a platform for future development in the use of environmentally-friendly fuels in aviation and elsewhere. “It is imperative that the global community take immediate steps to reduce our carbon footprint, because we can no longer afford to wait while our environment continues to degrade.” said Rodante. “By implementing even a small amount of bio-degradable fuel in our transportation system we can significantly reduce the CO2 (greenhouse gasses) and NOx (the precursor to smog) that contribute to global warming.”
In the near future Green Flight International expects to announce plans for another record-breaking aviation event. They invite aviation and biofuel enthusiasts to inquire about how they might be able to participate in this exciting venture. For more information contact Doug Rodante at (407) 880-2501 or doug@greenflightinternational.com .
Why? Well aviation history was made earlier this week in the high desert at the Reno-Stead Airport when an L-29 military aircraft piloted by Carol Sugars and Douglas Rodante succeeded in completing the world’s first jet flight powered solely by 100% biodiesel fuel. The Czechoslovakian-made aircraft is rated to fly on a variety of fuels including heating oil, making it the preferred platform for testing biodiesel in jet engines.
The experimental test flights were conducted starting with a blend of jet fuel and biodiesel. The engine data was measured and the performance was evaluated and found acceptable for continued use, eventually resulting in the landmark flight using 100% renewable biodiesel fuel. According to Chief Pilot Carol Sugars who wrote and conducted the test program, “As we gradually increased the amount of biodiesel in the fuel blend, the data confirmed that the aircraft continued to perform well, giving me the confidence to transition to 100% biodiesel.” Flight tests were conducted up to an altitude of 17,000 feet showing no significant difference in performance compared to conventional jet fuel.
“This test program between Green Flight International and Biodiesel Solutions was a unique and exciting opportunity to show what can be done in renewable fuels.” said Rudi Wiedemann, president of Biodiesel Solutions. “The very idea of using 100% biodiesel to fly a jet aircraft makes a compelling statement about the possibilities for the future of renewable energy and a healthier planet.”
Out of concern for our global environment, Green Flight International was conceived by Douglas Rodante in April 2006 to serve as a platform for future development in the use of environmentally-friendly fuels in aviation and elsewhere. “It is imperative that the global community take immediate steps to reduce our carbon footprint, because we can no longer afford to wait while our environment continues to degrade.” said Rodante. “By implementing even a small amount of bio-degradable fuel in our transportation system we can significantly reduce the CO2 (greenhouse gasses) and NOx (the precursor to smog) that contribute to global warming.”
In the near future Green Flight International expects to announce plans for another record-breaking aviation event. They invite aviation and biofuel enthusiasts to inquire about how they might be able to participate in this exciting venture. For more information contact Doug Rodante at (407) 880-2501 or doug@greenflightinternational.com .
Monday, August 20, 2007
Brazil Embarrases USA - Makes Biodiesel Deal with Jamaica
Surely I'm not the only person in the so called "First World" that is both embarrased by our own lack of progress and impressed with Brazils entrpreneurial approach to assisting its Carribean neighbour?
Jamaica is now poised to benefit from bilateral arrangements with Brazil in the area of biodiesel production, which is presenting great opportunities for farmers of the country.
The establishment of two biodiesel plants is being considered with the assistance of Brazil that has over 30 years of experience in the production of fuels.
The arrangement is in the early phase of development, but the exploration of possible crops for the production of biofuel has already begun.
The oil crops presently being grown in Brazil and identified as possible options to be used in the production of biodiesel here, include: soya bean, sunflower, castor bean, cotton seed, peanut - which is used in rotation with sugar for the production of both ethanol and biodiesel, jatropha and macaw palm.
It is not certain whether all of these will be compatible with the Jamaican climate. However, the Scientific Research Council has already done feasability analysis on one of the proposed crops - castor bean, but requires further research to determine which variety to plant.
Brazil's main oil source
The oil content of soya bean is about 20 per cent, with a yield of 3,000 kilogrammes per hectare. It is currently the main source of oil in Brazil. About 34 million tonnes are produced worldwide.
Sunflower's oil content is about 44 per cent of yield, which reaches 1,500 kg per hectare. It can be used for both edible oil and feedstock meal. Production worldwide is about 10 million tonnes.
A it relates to Castor beans, the oil content is 48 per cent. It yields 2,000 kg per hectare. The plant is suitable for growth on marginal lands and under extreme weather conditions.
Jatropha's oil content is 38 per cent with a yield of 4,000kg per hactre and produces inedible oil. Peanut has oil content of 54 per cent and is an attractive market. It produces both edible oil and can be use as meal, with mechanical harvesting possible.
Palm has oil content of 22 per cent with yield of 4,200, the highest of all commercial oil crops. It is however limited to rainy regions with world production of 36 million tonnes.
The production of biodiesel provides the twin goals of reducing petroleum import and supporting the country's agricultural sector.
But production of the biofuel will take an integrated approach, incorporating both the agriculture and fuel industry. The process will also involve small-scale farmers as an integral partner in the process.
Five key concepts
The production of biodiesel includes five key concepts: verticality, demand, competition, coordination and leverage. "These concepts are key to the production process," said Professor Aziz da Silva Jr., who was speaking at a two-day seminar on biofuels organised by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the Brazilian Embassy at the Pegasus hotel on August 9.
It is anticipated that the demand for biodiesel will increase over the next few years, as it can be used both as an end product and for input in other industries, such as refineries.
Some 500 billion cubic metres of biofuels are produced annually and are presently sold at US$600 per tonne.
A software - biosoft has been developed to conduct sensitivity, and scenario analysis to arrive at the most appropriate production levels using both social and economic indicators.
Brazil's diesel consumption is estimated at 40 billion liters (10.6 billion gallons) per year, with imports accounting for just eight to 10 per cent of consumption.
Jamaica is now poised to benefit from bilateral arrangements with Brazil in the area of biodiesel production, which is presenting great opportunities for farmers of the country.
The establishment of two biodiesel plants is being considered with the assistance of Brazil that has over 30 years of experience in the production of fuels.
The arrangement is in the early phase of development, but the exploration of possible crops for the production of biofuel has already begun.
The oil crops presently being grown in Brazil and identified as possible options to be used in the production of biodiesel here, include: soya bean, sunflower, castor bean, cotton seed, peanut - which is used in rotation with sugar for the production of both ethanol and biodiesel, jatropha and macaw palm.
It is not certain whether all of these will be compatible with the Jamaican climate. However, the Scientific Research Council has already done feasability analysis on one of the proposed crops - castor bean, but requires further research to determine which variety to plant.
Brazil's main oil source
The oil content of soya bean is about 20 per cent, with a yield of 3,000 kilogrammes per hectare. It is currently the main source of oil in Brazil. About 34 million tonnes are produced worldwide.
Sunflower's oil content is about 44 per cent of yield, which reaches 1,500 kg per hectare. It can be used for both edible oil and feedstock meal. Production worldwide is about 10 million tonnes.
A it relates to Castor beans, the oil content is 48 per cent. It yields 2,000 kg per hectare. The plant is suitable for growth on marginal lands and under extreme weather conditions.
Jatropha's oil content is 38 per cent with a yield of 4,000kg per hactre and produces inedible oil. Peanut has oil content of 54 per cent and is an attractive market. It produces both edible oil and can be use as meal, with mechanical harvesting possible.
Palm has oil content of 22 per cent with yield of 4,200, the highest of all commercial oil crops. It is however limited to rainy regions with world production of 36 million tonnes.
The production of biodiesel provides the twin goals of reducing petroleum import and supporting the country's agricultural sector.
But production of the biofuel will take an integrated approach, incorporating both the agriculture and fuel industry. The process will also involve small-scale farmers as an integral partner in the process.
Five key concepts
The production of biodiesel includes five key concepts: verticality, demand, competition, coordination and leverage. "These concepts are key to the production process," said Professor Aziz da Silva Jr., who was speaking at a two-day seminar on biofuels organised by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the Brazilian Embassy at the Pegasus hotel on August 9.
It is anticipated that the demand for biodiesel will increase over the next few years, as it can be used both as an end product and for input in other industries, such as refineries.
Some 500 billion cubic metres of biofuels are produced annually and are presently sold at US$600 per tonne.
A software - biosoft has been developed to conduct sensitivity, and scenario analysis to arrive at the most appropriate production levels using both social and economic indicators.
Brazil's diesel consumption is estimated at 40 billion liters (10.6 billion gallons) per year, with imports accounting for just eight to 10 per cent of consumption.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Biodiesel & Foodcrops
I note a great deal of speculation in this weeks press regarding the impact of growing or intensively farming biodiesel fuel crops on food production. This is a worthy concern however what I read is a lot of ill informed knee-jerk reaction rather than reasoned debate, so it’s worthy of further comment.
Granted, intensive farming of crops for bio-ethanol is at present a growing problem – especially in the third world although the impact on corn prices in the USA has led to a strong reaction in the press. Oil crops for biodiesel however have had very little impact as these crops are already grown for oil. We are only diverting some of this oil from being processed into cooking oil to being processed into biodiesel.
However the big problem is (was and always shall be) politics – or rather the politics of global economics. To put it simply the USA and western European governments have for years systematically undermined the economies of the third world while paying lip service to charitable aid works. Before you get hysterical you might want to do your own research on the debts levied and interest charged to third world countries compared to the amount of aid pumped in – and yes I agree that local corruption doesn’t help this situation, however stealing 50% of next to nothing is irrelevant when your country is being milked for 50% of its GDP.
There are vast areas of land throughout Africa alone which while unsuitable for food production will grow oil bearing crops suitable for biodiesel production. Rather than diverting food crops to make ethanol the USA & Europe could (read “should”) work to help African nations establish these crops. So why don’t they?
The demand for biofuels is growing so dramatically that this approach would quickly lead to Africa (and the far east) quickly becoming the major provider of vegetable oils for fuel. Neither America nor Europe can compete with the sheer quantity of land that is available in these nations which currently is not and cannot be used for food production.
Within a few short years these same nations currently financially shackled to the richer nations would be able to “buy their freedom” paying off their debts and establishing economies based on biofuel production. These nations would then no longer need to produce western food crops for export – which they currently do only in order to service their debts - and switch back to growing indigenous food crops, reducing starvation and the need for aid.
First world countries would then lose major sources of cheap food production which they cannot easily replace, especially in Europe where many countries including the UK no longer have enough arable land to produce enough food to feed their populations. Third world countries able to produce oil crops could choose when and if to grow western food crops and set their own prices without fear of financial pressure from creditors.
However by giving over domestic agricultural land to make crops for ethanol production we are creating the same pressure on food prices. We need to get past this traditional economic power struggle and start acting with a global view only then can all parties prosper.
Granted, intensive farming of crops for bio-ethanol is at present a growing problem – especially in the third world although the impact on corn prices in the USA has led to a strong reaction in the press. Oil crops for biodiesel however have had very little impact as these crops are already grown for oil. We are only diverting some of this oil from being processed into cooking oil to being processed into biodiesel.
However the big problem is (was and always shall be) politics – or rather the politics of global economics. To put it simply the USA and western European governments have for years systematically undermined the economies of the third world while paying lip service to charitable aid works. Before you get hysterical you might want to do your own research on the debts levied and interest charged to third world countries compared to the amount of aid pumped in – and yes I agree that local corruption doesn’t help this situation, however stealing 50% of next to nothing is irrelevant when your country is being milked for 50% of its GDP.
There are vast areas of land throughout Africa alone which while unsuitable for food production will grow oil bearing crops suitable for biodiesel production. Rather than diverting food crops to make ethanol the USA & Europe could (read “should”) work to help African nations establish these crops. So why don’t they?
The demand for biofuels is growing so dramatically that this approach would quickly lead to Africa (and the far east) quickly becoming the major provider of vegetable oils for fuel. Neither America nor Europe can compete with the sheer quantity of land that is available in these nations which currently is not and cannot be used for food production.
Within a few short years these same nations currently financially shackled to the richer nations would be able to “buy their freedom” paying off their debts and establishing economies based on biofuel production. These nations would then no longer need to produce western food crops for export – which they currently do only in order to service their debts - and switch back to growing indigenous food crops, reducing starvation and the need for aid.
First world countries would then lose major sources of cheap food production which they cannot easily replace, especially in Europe where many countries including the UK no longer have enough arable land to produce enough food to feed their populations. Third world countries able to produce oil crops could choose when and if to grow western food crops and set their own prices without fear of financial pressure from creditors.
However by giving over domestic agricultural land to make crops for ethanol production we are creating the same pressure on food prices. We need to get past this traditional economic power struggle and start acting with a global view only then can all parties prosper.
Monday, August 06, 2007
New Cheap Way to Purify your Biodiesel
A group of Chemists from the University of Leicester have developed a way of purifying biodiesel made from vegetable oils, which is cheap, simple and low in toxicity.
The team, led by Professor Andrew Abbott is able to remove glycerol, the main by-product of vegetable oil-based biodiesel, using ionic liquids made in part by vitamin B4 (choline chloride).
If left in biodiesel, glycerol (a syrupy sugar alcohol) would damage engines but this technique simply washes it out of the fuel. The ionic liquid developed by Professor Abbott uses a complex of choline chloride with glycerol to extract more glycerol out of the biodiesel.
The Leicester process is greener than traditional processes and effectively provides a sustainable methodology for the purification of biodiesel without the production of significant waste.
Professor Abbott commented: “We hope that further research will optimise the ionic liquid recycling and recovery of the glycerol. We are hoping to collaborate with a biodiesel producer to test this technology further.”
This process offers tremendous potential, if it becomes a commercial product it will be a very low cost low toxicity option to the current "dry wash" solutions.
The team, led by Professor Andrew Abbott is able to remove glycerol, the main by-product of vegetable oil-based biodiesel, using ionic liquids made in part by vitamin B4 (choline chloride).
If left in biodiesel, glycerol (a syrupy sugar alcohol) would damage engines but this technique simply washes it out of the fuel. The ionic liquid developed by Professor Abbott uses a complex of choline chloride with glycerol to extract more glycerol out of the biodiesel.
The Leicester process is greener than traditional processes and effectively provides a sustainable methodology for the purification of biodiesel without the production of significant waste.
Professor Abbott commented: “We hope that further research will optimise the ionic liquid recycling and recovery of the glycerol. We are hoping to collaborate with a biodiesel producer to test this technology further.”
This process offers tremendous potential, if it becomes a commercial product it will be a very low cost low toxicity option to the current "dry wash" solutions.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Africa Confirms Making Biodiesel Beats Making Ethanol
From Harare 25th July 2007
Zimbabwe's farmers have been moving towards creating an oil field in the country by planting jatropha, a feed stock for biodiesel.
The time is fast approaching when substantial harvests of seed will be available.
This seed needs processing, first to extract the vegetable oil, which is not fit for humans, and then esterifying the oil to produce a fuel that will burn well in diesel engines.
The technology already exists for both processes.
Several countries in Europe have biodiesel plants in operation for environmental reasons.
Biodiesel is useful as a way of absorbing surpluses of rape seed oil, and when burned does not add to the greenhouse gas load.
The carbon dioxide from the biodiesel of one harvest is absorbed by the plants growing the next harvest.
However, refineries and conversion plants are not cheap.
Setting up the industry is going to absorb a lot of resources, although the result will be of immense benefit to Zimbabwe.
So Vice President Joice Mujuru's call for a partnership between the State and the private sector is most welcome.
The State has made most of the running so far, but there is obviously plenty of room for private investment in this exciting new sector.
We now all know jatropha is a viable plant over most of Zimbabwe, including the semi-arid areas.
We all know that every drop of biodiesel that goes into our fuel pool will release foreign currency for other desperately needed purposes.
And we know from other industries that it is quite easy for private investors in agri-industries, where there is also State involvement, to make reasonable profits.
So biodiesel is one of the new industries that can make a huge difference to tens of thousands of Zimbabweans, from the farmers who grow the trees, through the industries that process the seed, to the whole business sector that will see its perennial shortage of foreign currency significantly alleviated.
As such, we hope that the partnership outlined by Cde Mujuru will be taken seriously by the private business sector and especially the oil and agri-industrial sectors, both of whom have expertise and access to expertise that can do so much to make the new industry a success.
It is theoretically possible for Zimbabwe to become self-sufficient in diesel, although that stage is a long way off.
But every percent of the diesel demand that can be met by local raw materials will create a noticeable improvement in Zimbabwe's ability to grow.
At the same time, the growth of an alcohol industry, to supplement petrol, should not be ignored.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Economy, Business and Finance
Energy
Sustainable Development
Zimbabwe
While petrol cannot be replaced by pure ethanol, in contrast to diesel where that fuel can be 100 percent replaced by biodiesel so long as temperatures are above -10 degrees Celsius, it is possible to dilute petrol 20 percent with ethanol at our altitude without having to modify engines.
The switch from fossil liquid fuels to biofuels will impact on the petroleum industry in Zimbabwe. If they wish to retain market shares and grow, they will need to be involved in the biofuel industry.
We believe that the best time to become involved is on the ground floor, that is now, and we hope that this industry in particular will welcome the call by the Vice President and will take the Government at its word and start playing the role desired.
Zimbabwe's farmers have been moving towards creating an oil field in the country by planting jatropha, a feed stock for biodiesel.
The time is fast approaching when substantial harvests of seed will be available.
This seed needs processing, first to extract the vegetable oil, which is not fit for humans, and then esterifying the oil to produce a fuel that will burn well in diesel engines.
The technology already exists for both processes.
Several countries in Europe have biodiesel plants in operation for environmental reasons.
Biodiesel is useful as a way of absorbing surpluses of rape seed oil, and when burned does not add to the greenhouse gas load.
The carbon dioxide from the biodiesel of one harvest is absorbed by the plants growing the next harvest.
However, refineries and conversion plants are not cheap.
Setting up the industry is going to absorb a lot of resources, although the result will be of immense benefit to Zimbabwe.
So Vice President Joice Mujuru's call for a partnership between the State and the private sector is most welcome.
The State has made most of the running so far, but there is obviously plenty of room for private investment in this exciting new sector.
We now all know jatropha is a viable plant over most of Zimbabwe, including the semi-arid areas.
We all know that every drop of biodiesel that goes into our fuel pool will release foreign currency for other desperately needed purposes.
And we know from other industries that it is quite easy for private investors in agri-industries, where there is also State involvement, to make reasonable profits.
So biodiesel is one of the new industries that can make a huge difference to tens of thousands of Zimbabweans, from the farmers who grow the trees, through the industries that process the seed, to the whole business sector that will see its perennial shortage of foreign currency significantly alleviated.
As such, we hope that the partnership outlined by Cde Mujuru will be taken seriously by the private business sector and especially the oil and agri-industrial sectors, both of whom have expertise and access to expertise that can do so much to make the new industry a success.
It is theoretically possible for Zimbabwe to become self-sufficient in diesel, although that stage is a long way off.
But every percent of the diesel demand that can be met by local raw materials will create a noticeable improvement in Zimbabwe's ability to grow.
At the same time, the growth of an alcohol industry, to supplement petrol, should not be ignored.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Economy, Business and Finance
Energy
Sustainable Development
Zimbabwe
While petrol cannot be replaced by pure ethanol, in contrast to diesel where that fuel can be 100 percent replaced by biodiesel so long as temperatures are above -10 degrees Celsius, it is possible to dilute petrol 20 percent with ethanol at our altitude without having to modify engines.
The switch from fossil liquid fuels to biofuels will impact on the petroleum industry in Zimbabwe. If they wish to retain market shares and grow, they will need to be involved in the biofuel industry.
We believe that the best time to become involved is on the ground floor, that is now, and we hope that this industry in particular will welcome the call by the Vice President and will take the Government at its word and start playing the role desired.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Making Biodiesel - For Aeroplanes!?
If you're reading this then you are probably making biodiesel at home or at the very least intrested in making and using biodiesel. One area that up until now has seemed largely ignored by the comercial biodiesel producers is aviation. Now the press and the government is starting to show an intrest in how much pollution aircraft cause and contribute to global warming - the dreaded words "carbon footprint" have been heard.
So I did some digging around on the subject and came up with some very interetsing developments at Perdue University:
As a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, Bernie Tao has worked on several experimental projects that challenge biomass parameters.
Over the years, Tao and his students have explored changes in plant microbial behavior to create useful products that people can use. One example is biodegradable plastics made with animal fat. The U.S. government has also asked Tao to look at vegetable oils and soybeans to create renewable products that would replace petroleum, a limited resource. For him, the projects aren't about repeating what scientific advances have already been made, such as renewable fuel, but discovering new products that perhaps no one had thought of before.
"We didn't have any use in making biodiesel fuel because it's pretty simple," Tao said. "But people would approach us and ask, 'What else can you do with this?' So we began to look at what other things you can make with it."
As Tao and his students have proven, the possibilities seem endless.
Getting the most out of biodiesel
The highest value petroleum product in the energy sector is aviation fuel, according to Tao. It differs from ground transportation fuel, and the main challenge is its cold temperature behavior. A biodiesel-fueled car has no problem running in weather 5 or 10 degrees below zero. However, biodiesel in airplane engines would easily crystallize with temperatures in the atmosphere between 40 and 58 degrees below zero. To obtain a more ideal aviation fuel, Tao and his students created an efficient fractionation method for biodiesel, extracting the materials that would quickly freeze in the fuel. Tao's improved biodiesel is being tested in commercial airline engines at Purdue University Airport, where Tao's students measure thrust, emissions and power of various biodiesel blends.
So I did some digging around on the subject and came up with some very interetsing developments at Perdue University:
As a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, Bernie Tao has worked on several experimental projects that challenge biomass parameters.
Over the years, Tao and his students have explored changes in plant microbial behavior to create useful products that people can use. One example is biodegradable plastics made with animal fat. The U.S. government has also asked Tao to look at vegetable oils and soybeans to create renewable products that would replace petroleum, a limited resource. For him, the projects aren't about repeating what scientific advances have already been made, such as renewable fuel, but discovering new products that perhaps no one had thought of before.
"We didn't have any use in making biodiesel fuel because it's pretty simple," Tao said. "But people would approach us and ask, 'What else can you do with this?' So we began to look at what other things you can make with it."
As Tao and his students have proven, the possibilities seem endless.
Getting the most out of biodiesel
The highest value petroleum product in the energy sector is aviation fuel, according to Tao. It differs from ground transportation fuel, and the main challenge is its cold temperature behavior. A biodiesel-fueled car has no problem running in weather 5 or 10 degrees below zero. However, biodiesel in airplane engines would easily crystallize with temperatures in the atmosphere between 40 and 58 degrees below zero. To obtain a more ideal aviation fuel, Tao and his students created an efficient fractionation method for biodiesel, extracting the materials that would quickly freeze in the fuel. Tao's improved biodiesel is being tested in commercial airline engines at Purdue University Airport, where Tao's students measure thrust, emissions and power of various biodiesel blends.
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