Biodiesel Production Status

biodiesel.org ^ | 5/3/2006 | biodiesel.org

[P-40]

Some things that President Bush just might want to mention one of these days...

Biodiesel Production Graph
http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Production_Graph_Slide.pdf

http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/producers_marketers/ProducersMap-Existing.pdf
Operating Plants: 65

http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/producers_marketers/ProducersMap-Construction.pdf
Under Construction: 50
Under Expansion: 8

http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/producers_marketers/ProducersMap-Pre-Construction.pdf
Pre-Construction: 36

[Mount Athos]

Biodiesel is more plausible than every other alternative (vehicle energy) source mentioned, right now as is with existing infrastructure and engines.

I don't know why it isn't talked about a lot more.

[P-40]

I don't know why it isn't talked about a lot more.

Same here. Most diesel engines can run a biodiesel blend with little to no modification. Certain kinds of engines can run straight biodiesel with minor conversion for a hugh savings.

Bush FINALLY mentioned the current state of ethanol production recently. It is about time. I'm not a big fan of ethanol, but I really like biodiesel, and I really hate buying fuel from various and asundry third world tyrants.

[wayoverontheright]

• Here is a great report on the past, present, and future of bio-diesel.

[Mount Athos]

I feel the same.
We have a moral imperative to do what we can to stop funding the many evil governments that sell oil.
It's crazy we aren't doing more with biodiesel.
Right now we are throwing away huge amounts of it, even just cooking oil.

The highways would smell of french fries though.

I'm convinced diesel engines are about to become much more popular. Until now, only inferior tech diesel engines were available in the USA, because the most efficient ones can't tolerate the high sulphur diesel we have. Europe has way better diesel engines, with more power and better fuel economy and reliability, thanks to their low sulphur fuel.

Now that the USA is switching to low sulphur diesel, we'll get the better engines...

[Stashiu]

My 1985 MB 300D Turbo takes biodiesel straight up. A bit hard to find at the moment, but a new retailer is about to open up this summer.

Then there is the cool factor with french fry exhaust. The Jenny Craig crowd chases after me.

[markomalley]

And better than the bio-diesel process is the Thermal Depolymerization process. I don't know why this isn't being implemented more than it is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_depolymerization
http://www.thermaldepolymerization.org/
http://www.res-energy.com/index.asp
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2004-01-22-kantor_x.htm

[hubbubhubbub]

Anselmo testifying before congress today.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060503/to265.html?.v=27

[P-40]

Here is a great report on the past, present, and future of bio-diesel.

That was a fun, interesting, and most importantly, realistic, read.

[P-40]

Anselmo testifying before congress today.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll see if the hearing will be available for download.

Anyone want to bet that his testimony will get zero, or less than zero, coverage in the MSM?

[pabianice]

Average restaurant uses 6,000 gallons of cooking oil per month = 72,000 gallons per year X 189,000 restaurants in US = 13,608,000,000 gallons per year ready to be converted to biodiesel.

http://www.texogatech.com/safuel.cfm

[P-40]

I don't know why this isn't being implemented more than it is:

I've heard some talk of it...but very little. A form of it is supposedly going to one day be used to skip a step in biodiesel production.

[P-40]

Well, I'll be. Our state senator, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, just did a short piece on the news here about alternative energy and alternative fuels and their impact on Texas.

[P-40]

takes biodiesel straight up.

Actual B100? That is a good deal.

[B Knotts]

Yep. I too have an '85 300D and have run biodiesel in it. I'm using the regular stuff right now, because B99 is $3.29/gallon, and it does reduce the fuel economy a bit.

Also it can be a little more susceptible to algae outbreaks than petroleum-based diesel.

But the exhaust smell is indeed pleasant.

[P-40]

But the exhaust smell is indeed pleasant.

I love the smell of regular diesel...but I guess you shouldn't go around smelling it. :)

I hope one of the new plants will be going up near you.

[SpinyNorman]

Diesel fuel in Europe is both lower in sulfur and higher in cetane than the crap we are forced to buy here. Our Diesel is the equivalent of low grade Mexican Pemex compared to EuroDiesel, great for trucks with lots of filters etc., but lousy for high performance autos/truck with emissions concerns.

The new ultralow sulfur Diesel (ULSD) will likely suffer some loss of the lubricating properties inherent in the fuel we use now, or better, used to use when sulfur wasn't a bad thing. This will result in increased fuel system wear.

The beauty of biodiesel is that it will has more lubrication properties than the petrodiesel, so it will have benefits far above the simple fact it does not have to come from some Islamofascist infested region of the world. It is also a superb solvent, and will clean out your Diesel fuel system like Draino, and some fuel lines will need to be updated to newer rubber compositions to counteract decomposition by the biodiesel. That is the reason older Diesels need to either be updated or avoid using it. Any older Diesel will probably have to do a few extra fuel filter changes when it is first used. Another downside is that it is prone to wax up at temperatures higher than that of winter mix Diesel, which will be a problem for the upper half of the country in the winter. No doubt a solution will be found, such as a higher petrodiesel proportion or some sort of additive.

BMW, Honda, Nissan, and others are planning to introduce Diesels when the ULSD is phased in during 2007. Daimler Chrysler is planning to put its CRD engine into more Jeeps and possibly some autos. VW is reintroducing its superb Toureg V10 Diesel, and Mercedes will likely expand its Diesel offerings.

Diesels are demonstrably superior to the complicated and expensive hybrid solutions that are being touted as America's savior. Diesels are ideal for towing and large loads, while hybrid powertrains are fairly fragile by comparison. Try a VW TDI sometime and see what it is like.

Once you go Diesel, you never go back!

[Conservative Firster]

Tiny Reactor Boosts Biodiesel Production

A tiny chemical reactor that can convert vegetable oil directly into biodiesel could help farmers turn some of their crops into homegrown fuel to operate agricultural equipment instead of relying on costly imported oil.

"This is all about producing energy in such a way that it liberates people," said Goran Jovanovic, a chemical engineering professor at Oregon State University who developed the microreactor.

The device - about the size of a credit card - pumps vegetable oil and alcohol through tiny parallel channels, each smaller than a human hair, to convert the oil into biodiesel almost instantly....

[Mount Athos]

Thanks for the informative and interesting post.
In particular I'm interested to hear about the many manufacturers with new diesel offerings in 2007 to accomodate the low sulphur fuel.
What is the mercedes CRD thing?

[operation clinton cleanup]

Interesting pre-gas panic from 2000. Cincinnati Buses are running on 80% bio diesel this summer.

City’s buses fuel up with grease
Cincinnati using biodiesel to reduce pollution even though cost is higher

MSNBC, Copyright 2000
August 9, 2000
By Bill Sloat

CINCINNATI, Aug. 9 — When this city’s buses belch, the exhaust isn’t plumes of stinky black smoke — it’s a culinary curiosity laced with the unmistakable aroma of greasy fast food. The 288 public buses are digesting restaurant kitchen waste in an alternative-fuel experiment using reclaimed cooking oil that sizzled everything from chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers, to french fries and onion rings.

“WE EXPECT to operate on this diet for about 2 million miles, from late July through the end of summer,” said Sallie Hilvers, a spokeswoman for Cincinnati’s Metro bus system.

One goal of the $100,000 federally funded test is to see if oil from home-grown products such as peanuts, corn and soybeans can ease the nation’s appetite for imported petroleum. The oil collected from area restaurants is blended with diesel fuel.