Biodiesel Versus Petroleum: What Are The Facts?
Advantages of Biodiesel:
- Biodiesel production can reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil markets
- Same gas mileage as petro-diesel
- Reduces vehicle emissions of sulfur oxides, particulates, and carbon monoxide
- Biodiesel can help to close the "carbon cycle". Fossil fuels add ‘new’ CO2 to the atmosphere that was previously stored in the ground, but biodiesel releases CO2 taken from the atmosphere to grow the resource. This results in a 70% net reduction of CO2 emissions as compared to petro-diesel.
- Biodiesel is less toxic than petro-diesel. Biodiesel is biodegradable and breaks down 4 times faster than petro-diesel
- Biodiesel is less combustible than petro-diesel, so it is safer to store and transport.
- Using a biodiesel blend extends the life and energy capacity of a car.
Concerns About Biodiesel:
- Less accessible (only a few gas stations have it available for fueling) Click here to find out if there is a biodiesel service station near you.
- Increased levels of nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions, which contribute to smog
- In a car engine, biodiesel contributes similar levels of hydrocarbon emissions as regular diesel
- Production process releases toxic gas as a result of the methanol and lye reacting
- Biodiesel fuel thickens into a solid at low temperatures making it difficult to store and transport in cold climates.
- Pure biodiesel must be stored at 75 degrees, which requires heating and wrapping the storage tanks and pipes.
What Is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a fuel often produced from plant oils. Furman's biodiesel production starts with waste oil from the dining hall. Biodiesel can be used in its pure form, called B100, but blends containing 2%, 5%, and 20% are more common for auto use.
The biodiesel industry is still considered a relatively new and developing market in the United States. Production as of March 21, 2005 was limited to 21 dedicated processing plants. Fewer than 10 terminals exist today that can create enough biodiesel fuel to fill transport trucks. However, the industry is poised for rapid growth as the demand continues to increase.
Many existing soy processing plants can be quickly converted and expanded to produce biodiesel. It has been estimated that, with modification, these non-fuel soy processing facilities could expand capacity to 200 million gallons of biodiesel.
The largest dedicated processing plant is at West Central Cooperative in Ralston, Iowa. They began production in a 12-million gallon facility. Several producer and investment groups are currently exploring the potential of building additional facilities of similar or larger scale. One such plant is a 30-million gallon facility in Brewster, Minnesota projected to be in production by 2005 coinciding with the state's biodiesel mandate.
How Is Biodiesel Used?
The best use of biodiesel is with government fleets and trucking companies which require large amounts of diesel.
In 2004, more than 400 fleets had incorporated biodiesel use into their operations. The fleets included military installations, national parks, municipal utility companies and even the entertainment sector. The surge in biodiesel use was encouraged by an Environmental Protection Act that offered tax credits to fleet managers that used biodiesel. Fifteen U.S. states have already passed supportive measures encouraging biodiesel use. Minnesota has the strongest legislation, requiring a minimum 2 percent blend of biodiesel in all diesel fuel sold in the state beginning in 2005.
In Europe, diesel vehicles are more common, and biodiesel fuels (pure and blends) are readily available at gas stations. France has the largest Biodiesel production facility in the world and blends 5% Biodiesel with all of the petroleum sold in France. Auto manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Mercedes warranty their vehicles for Biodiesel.