Biodiesel Lola racing at LeMans
December 22nd, 2005
London based D1 Oils will sponsor a Lola B2K in the 2006 LeMans 24 hour race. The car will be running an engine which is a modified version of the Volkswagen Touareg’s V10 and it will be fueled with a biodiesel blend still being tested to find the best race formulation.
Although the car will be about 15mph slower than other cars (top speed will be 200mph) D1 is hoping the better mileage of the diesel engine will require fewer fuel stops and make up for the speed disadvantage.
D1 CEO Phillip Wood said: “This is about demonstrating that low emissions don’t mean low performance. We are entering a biodiesel car for Le Mans prototype racing because endurance events offer the best opportunity to test and improve the characteristics of this new green fuel. What we learn about how different biodiesel blends perform in our engine is going to be of immense value to biodiesel feedstock producers and refiners, to car and engine manufacturers and to motorists who want to know that biodiesel will get them the mileage and performance they need while contributing less to global warming. It also offers a strong opportunity to build the D1 brand as we expand our planting and refining business globally.”
via 4Car News
Biodiesel from waste products
December 20th, 2005Mean Green Biodiesel of Tennessee is planning a facility for Memphis, that will produce biodiesel from more than the usual soybean oil used by a large number of biodiesel plants. The plant would be:
“marginally different” in that it would be geared toward using more industrial-type waste products and could even get things like “hard greases” from the City of Memphis wastewater treatment system, which are currently being removed and shipped to landfills.
Byproducts will also be used:
There are numerous industries in the biomedical and biochemical fields that could use some of Mean Green’s byproducts, chiefly glycerin, and use it as raw material for their products,
When some opponents of biodiesel focus on palm oil and rainforests, they forget other feed stock that could be used, sources that are currently waste products intended for landfills.
Erie, PA will see new biofuel plant
December 6th, 2005Lake Erie Biofuels plans to begin construction of a 30 million gallon per year biofuel plant in the spring of 2006. It will be located on the grounds of the former International Paper site near the shores of Lake Erie. The plant will produce methyl soyate, a soybean based additive, which can also be used as a wood preservative. Although construction cannot begin until the final air quality approval is granted, it is expected the board will give the plant a green light.
Lake Erie Biofuels is owned by the Erie Management Group which is planning to operate several other businesses on the IP Site. Northwestern PA will also be home to another biofuel plant to be built near Oil City on the former grounds of the Pennzoil refinery.
The biodiesel and biofuel industry is growing at a rapid pace and Pennsylvania, which recently opened a biodiesel injection plant, intends to be a key player.
Biodiesel and rainforests
November 28th, 2005We mentioned the now growing complaint about biodiesel production harming the rainforests a couple of weeks ago. It seems everyone is picking up on this issue and the “greens” now say we’re dumping our problems on third world countries. Is there anything short of rolling back civilization to the dark ages that will satisfy the greens?
The issue of increasing biodiesel production causing problems with rainforests is one where only costs are acknowledged without consideration of benefits. More biodiesel use decreases harmful emissions and decreases dependence on petroleum, definite benefits. Biodiesel production does not have to result in rainforest clearing although it could, not good. The rapid, or should I say explosive, growth in biodiesel recently, leading to fears of rainforest destruction, is itself fueled by numerous biodiesel incentives put in place by various governments as well as legislation requiring the use of biodiesel in government fleets and also requiring biodiesel at the pump in countries like the U.K. Read the rest of this entry »
Biodiesel production - statewide or nationwide?
November 22nd, 2005A recent article in a Seattle newspaper pointed out the difficulty facing the state of Washington as it tries to start its own biodiesel industry. Farmers tried to raise canola and found growing conditions were not as good as they were in various midwestern states. Adding to their problems, no crusher is currently available within the state to prepare the canola for biodiesel production, the closest one is located in Montana. The question could reasonably be asked, should Washington be trying to supply its own biodiesel?
Biodiesel is definitely a growth area and demand will be moving up rapidly as more state and local governments and various private organizations, too, require the use of biodiesel in their vehicle fleets. This does not logically mean every state needs to produce its own biodiesel any more than thinking we should grow oranges in every state because we all drink the juice. Some states are better situated for producing the fuel as some now have petroleum reserves within their borders. You produce what makes sense. Read the rest of this entry »
Virgin Airways moving to biomass based fuels
November 16th, 2005Almost as an underscore to my earlier post about there being no need for incentives to move toward the production and use of biofuels, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airways, said he is planning to move his entire air fleet to biofuels as soon as possible. The rising price and unstable supplies of conventional petroleum fuels are all the incentive he needs. This is another example showing the free market provides plenty of incentives on its own without the extra tweaking of politically sensitive politicians.
source: MSNBC
Biodiesel booming - do we need incentives?
November 16th, 2005Whether we are talking about biodiesel specifically or biofuels in general, which include bioheat heating oil, various ethanol blends or even SVO (straight vegetable oil), the rapid expansion of both demand for and supply of these fuels is evident. It’s a great example of the free market at work but some of the activity in these markets is the result of individuals or companies chasing incentives and it’s not clear that incentives are necessary.
The strongest incentives for alternative fuel are the rising price of regular fuel caused by insecure or insufficient supplies. As prices rise, consumers look for alternatives and producers step in with many options along with manufacturers who make equipment available that will work with some of the new fuels like E85. It’s a very natural process. Read the rest of this entry »
Free waste oil for DIY Biodiesel going away?
November 14th, 2005As I noted the other day, with the rapid growth of biodiesel and bioheat, the demand for left over cooking oil will eventually turn that waste into a commodity. Only those restaurants not paying attention will continue to give this oil away for free rather than use it themselves for making biodiesel or burning it in a furnace for home or business heat. If not used in their own business, they may eventually sell it.
If you are planning to make biodiesel for your own vehicle, be sure you have a good source for the feedstock. Any restaurant or business that has a large amount of left over cooking oil is in a prime position to dramatically reduce their fuel and heating costs if they also have an oil burning furnace installed. If you are thinking of purchasing one of the biodiesel kits and then rounding up used oil from your local diner, you may find this works for a while but not long term. Just something to keep in mind before you purchase that kit.
