What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a completely natural, renewable fuel, which can be applied in almost any situation where conventional petroleum diesel is used. Although "diesel" is part of its name, there are no petroleum or other fossil fuels in biodiesel. Biodiesel is 100% vegetable oil based.

Currently biodiesel is produced mainly from field crop oils throughout Europe and used in a wide range of diesel vehicles. The fuel to be produced in Britain will be made from a blend of recycled cooking oil and farm-pressed rapeseed oil. The cooking oil has in the past been collected and either sent to landfill or treated and blended into livestock feed. Liquid wastes can no longer be landfilled and an EU ban on livestock feed comes into force in October 2004. About half of the vegetable oil distributed to the catering trade is unaccounted for and is probably illegally dumped.

In the past decade, biodiesel has been gaining world-wide popularity as an alternative energy source because of its many benefits. Besides the landfill reduction benefits, this environment-friendly fuel reduces tailpipe emissions, visible smoke and objectionable odours. It operates well in a conventional diesel vehicle without engine modifications, and can also be blended with conventional diesel while still achieving substantial reductions in emissions. Because biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable and non-flammable, handling and storage are safer than conventional petroleum diesel fuel. The cost compares well when pricing against other alternative fuels.

Technically, biodiesel is Vegetable Oil Methyl Ester. It is formed by cracking the triglyceride molecules of vegetable oil to form glycerol and fatty acid esters. Once the glycerol is removed from the oil, the remaining molecules are, to a diesel engine, similar to petroleum diesel fuel. There are some notable differences. The biodiesel molecules are very simple hydrocarbon chains, containing no sulphur, benzene ring molecules or aromatics associated with fossil fuels. Biodiesel is made up of about 10% oxygen, making it a naturally "oxygenated" fuel.

Power and economy

One of the major advantages is the fact that it can be used in existing engines and fuel injection equipment (no modification required) without negative impacts to operating performance. Vehicle operators do not notice any change in performance. The oxygen content results in a small decrease in energy per litre, but improves combustion efficiency, particularly at part-load. MPG figures are generally 3% down on fossil diesel in normal use, and up to 6% down at full power.

Fuel handling

Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel for vehicles requiring no special dispensing and storage equipment. Fuel gases, by contrast, require extensive modification to the vehicles and special storage and dispensing equipment. Safety is an issue with gas-powered vehicles and they are prohibited from travelling through the Channel Tunnel. They are also produced from non-renewable fossil sources.

Storage

Readily blends and stays blended with mineral diesel so it can be stored and dispensed wherever diesel is stored or sold.

Combustibility/Safety

Biodiesel has a very high flash point (130°C) making it one of the safest of all alternative fuels.

Production/Refining

The only alternative fuel that can boast of a zero total emissions production process.

Lubricity

The only alternative fuel that can actually extend engine life because of its superior lubricating properties. In France, 5% biodiesel is added to the great majority of retail diesel fuel to restore the lubricity lost when ultra low sulphur diesel was introduced.

Environmental Impact

The only renewable substitute diesel fuel that actually reduces major greenhouse gas components in the atmosphere. The use of biodiesel will also reduce the following emissions:

carbon monoxide
ozone-forming-hydrocarbons
hazardous diesel particulates
acid rain-causing sulphur dioxide
lifecycle carbon dioxide.
Nox emissions are not reduced

Availability

At present, only the limited output from our pilot plant is available at 80p/litre, duty paid, and most of this is fully committed. Two-litre packs of 'EcoLube' are available, intended as lubricity-enhancing additive or for evaluation purposes. (also effective in passing the MoT smoke test!)
The pilot plant is registered with Customs & Excise, and the output attracts a rate of duty (27.1 pence per litre) 20 pence less than ULSD. A farm-based production unit in Kent is nearing completion, subject to EA approvals. When this is fully on-stream, output will rise to 10,000 litres per week
Fuel can be collected from us (near Ashford, Kent) or deliveries can be arranged at reasonable cost. In keeping with the low-impact ethos of the project, however, we prefer to service local customers.
Further farm-based units are planned for Scotland (Aberdeen), North Yorkshire and Greece
In due course, our vision is for a franchised network of similar installations nation-wide, giving farm diversification and environmental benefits to the widest possible constituency.