Biodiesel

The NZ Government's mandatory biofuel sales targets are expected to kick in around April 2008. This means that either the oil companies will begin adding biodiesel into our diesel, or they'll be up for multi-million-dollar fines.

How will biodiesel affect the people whose lives and/or livelihoods depend upon a steady supply of good-quality fuel?

The optimists, and this includes many public servants, say there's nothing to worry about, that B5 can be used in existing diesel vehicles without any modification.

The doomsayers reckon we should stay away from biodiesel.

They can't all be right, can they?

I reckon diesel users need to know:

• if biodiesel is any good
• if it will take the pressure off diesel prices
• if it is the right alternative fuel for New Zealand

There's been a lot of talk about making biodiesel for the NZ market from tallow. That's because the bottom sort of dropped out of the tallow market after the UK's BSE scare. Tallow used to be made into animal feed, but that is now a no-no.Tallow can be made into biodiesel OR synthetic diesel - either way, you have a biofuel. How's that for confusing?

Scientists and engineers have been testing biodiesel since the 1970s, and the manufacturing process is well understood. Click here for a description of the biodiesel manufacturing process.

Biodiesel is a well-proven fuel, but it probably won't completely replace petrodiesel. There simply isn't enough land to grow the feedstock. Understandably, estimates of the world's capacity to make biodiesel vary, but it seems that the world can satisfy maybe five to ten percent of its diesel needs from biodiesel. That's five to ten percent we don't have to purchase from politically unstable countries.

I've put together a reasonably comprehensive summary of what I've been able to learn about biodiesel. Check out the links at right to find out what I've written. You won't find any b.s., and I have tried to cover all the important practical issues.

If you can't find what you need, either email me
or browse around Green Car Congress

return to the diesel index

The diesel index

Diesel jargon buster

Biodiesel

• What is biodiesel?
• Preparing for biodiesel

Cudby's tech blog

• Vehicle maintenance will make or break biodiesel in New Zealand

Background information

• Wikipedia's article about biodiesel
• Journey to Forever's biodiesel recipes

Interesting biodiesel projects

Daryl Hannah’s El Camino (don't forget to check out the truck!)

Earthrace - kiwi-built biodiesel fizz-boat

Ralph Sims's biodiesel VW Golf - a kiwi scientist who has been testing biodiesel since the 1970s

MTV's 800hp biodiesel Chevy Impala

Practical advice from the engine and equipment manufacturers

Caterpillar (Dec 2005)

Case New Holland (May 2006)

Cummins (March 2007)

Engine manufacturers association (Feb 2003)

Ford (May 2005)

Fuel injection equipment manufacturers (Jun 2004)

Jeep

John Deere (March 2005)

Kubota (Nov 2006)

Scania (June 2006)

Volvo

Questions?

If it's a practical issue about biodiesel, contact me