Having recieved a good comment here recently from someone looking into using Biodiesel it highlighted the problem of information or lack of it about the whole subject.
The petro chemical industry does like to 'control' any potential threats to its position and not all of their efforts are open and identifiable. Many times they operate under the radar. They like to distribute disinformation and confusion about biofuels. It suits their needs.
So beware, all that you read and all that you hear may be 'tainted' or contradictory.
This is the main reason I started this blog. To get some truth into the debate and try to encourage ordinary people to either use or preferably make their own biodiesel. Making biodiesel from WVO is a brilliant solution to lots and lots of issues right now. It is easier to do than most people think.
I am just finishing my own eBook called 'Biodiesel for Beginners' that will be available from a website near you! - quite soon. So keep reading and thanks for all the attention so far.
Making Biodiesel News
Welcome to the world of making Biodiesel.Here you will find tips and free reports on the best ways of making biodiesel at home or on a small local scale. Biodiesel is a real alternative to fossil fuel so help save the planet by making biodiesel yourself, at home. The big difference with 'Making Biodiesel News' is that it's written by someone who has been making Biodiesel since 2006
Friday 9 May 2008
Wednesday 7 May 2008
..and you thought I wasn't coming back!
Sorry for the huge absence but you know what they say about absences.
Well it seems like over the last few months the story has taken root that biofuels will completely starve the third world out of existence and probablty accelerate AIDS as well. I also read that using biofuels can cause infertility, or is that just wishful thinking on behalf of the Chinese?
Now a more cynical fellow than me might just suspect the whiff of intervention from the mega - global - stupendously powerful and mighty oil industry at work here. There big and they're clever and this argument against biofuel is a stonker.
How clever?
How could any fair and right minded person be seen to argue for biofuel after that allegation!
Ah well, better just get on with raping the last of the worlds oil resources then. Cheer up, at least most people in the West can still just afford to fill up!
More revelations soon. Stay tuned.
Well it seems like over the last few months the story has taken root that biofuels will completely starve the third world out of existence and probablty accelerate AIDS as well. I also read that using biofuels can cause infertility, or is that just wishful thinking on behalf of the Chinese?
Now a more cynical fellow than me might just suspect the whiff of intervention from the mega - global - stupendously powerful and mighty oil industry at work here. There big and they're clever and this argument against biofuel is a stonker.
How clever?
How could any fair and right minded person be seen to argue for biofuel after that allegation!
Ah well, better just get on with raping the last of the worlds oil resources then. Cheer up, at least most people in the West can still just afford to fill up!
More revelations soon. Stay tuned.
Tuesday 18 March 2008
National Biodiesel Day!
Well sometimes America does do things properly, like appreciating Biodiesel. Here is an extract from the latest National Biodiesel Board bulletin:
Celebrate Biodiesel's Green Attributes on National Biodiesel Day, March 18th~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Biodiesel Supporter: Everyone thinks of green on St. Patrick’s Day, but the day after is an important opportunity to celebrate biodiesel’s green benefits in America. March 18, the birth date of biodiesel inventor Rudolf Diesel, is National Biodiesel Day. It is a reminder of the environmental benefits of the fuel that Diesel introduced in late 19th Century. Overall, the U.S. biodiesel industry is playing a constructive role in helping to promote energy independence. The 500 million gallons of fuel the U.S. biodiesel industry produced in 2007 offset nearly 12 million barrels of oil. Some have inaccurately described the environmental attributes of biodiesel. The fact is that: - Soy-based biodiesel reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide reductions by 78 percent, as shown by analysis conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy. This takes into account everything from planting the soybeans to delivering biodiesel to the pump. - A 2007 update to this analysis found that for every unit of fossil energy it takes to make biodiesel, 3.5 units of energy are gained.- It was no surprise that President Bush described biodiesel as the most promising renewable fuel when he spoke to a global gathering of renewable energy leaders on March 5 in Washington, D.C. - Last December, with broad bipartisan support, Congress passed and the President signed an energy bill that dramatically expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The RFS sets minimum standards for the use of renewables in our nation’s fuel. At the urging of NBB, this landmark initiative for the first time specifically requires a renewable component in diesel fuel. As the expanded RFS was being considered in Congress, the biodiesel industry worked closely with the environmental community in support of a requirement that biodiesel under the program reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to petroleum diesel fuel. We have every confidence our fuel will meet this aggressive greenhouse emission standard. - Lastly, it is worthwhile to note that the U.S. biodiesel industry is promoting job creation and economic opportunity in rural America. A recent study concluded that in 2007 alone, the biodiesel industry supported over 21,000 jobs and added over $4 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). America’s biodiesel industry is producing a sustainable fuel that is good for the environment, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and encourages job creation. The biodiesel industry will continue to play a constructive role in helping America meet our shared energy and environmental goals.
Celebrate Biodiesel's Green Attributes on National Biodiesel Day, March 18th~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Biodiesel Supporter: Everyone thinks of green on St. Patrick’s Day, but the day after is an important opportunity to celebrate biodiesel’s green benefits in America. March 18, the birth date of biodiesel inventor Rudolf Diesel, is National Biodiesel Day. It is a reminder of the environmental benefits of the fuel that Diesel introduced in late 19th Century. Overall, the U.S. biodiesel industry is playing a constructive role in helping to promote energy independence. The 500 million gallons of fuel the U.S. biodiesel industry produced in 2007 offset nearly 12 million barrels of oil. Some have inaccurately described the environmental attributes of biodiesel. The fact is that: - Soy-based biodiesel reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide reductions by 78 percent, as shown by analysis conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy. This takes into account everything from planting the soybeans to delivering biodiesel to the pump. - A 2007 update to this analysis found that for every unit of fossil energy it takes to make biodiesel, 3.5 units of energy are gained.- It was no surprise that President Bush described biodiesel as the most promising renewable fuel when he spoke to a global gathering of renewable energy leaders on March 5 in Washington, D.C. - Last December, with broad bipartisan support, Congress passed and the President signed an energy bill that dramatically expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The RFS sets minimum standards for the use of renewables in our nation’s fuel. At the urging of NBB, this landmark initiative for the first time specifically requires a renewable component in diesel fuel. As the expanded RFS was being considered in Congress, the biodiesel industry worked closely with the environmental community in support of a requirement that biodiesel under the program reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to petroleum diesel fuel. We have every confidence our fuel will meet this aggressive greenhouse emission standard. - Lastly, it is worthwhile to note that the U.S. biodiesel industry is promoting job creation and economic opportunity in rural America. A recent study concluded that in 2007 alone, the biodiesel industry supported over 21,000 jobs and added over $4 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). America’s biodiesel industry is producing a sustainable fuel that is good for the environment, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and encourages job creation. The biodiesel industry will continue to play a constructive role in helping America meet our shared energy and environmental goals.
Friday 15 February 2008
Right here, right now!
I thought today I should write about the preponderance of articles I have seen lately that are citicising or at the very least putting a negative slant onto making Biodiesel.
You must have seen them.
Things like, "Biodiesel is not the future", "Third World countries to starve so that the Western World can carry on driving their 4x4's" etc, etc.
This is nonsense!
I don't think even the most fervent supporters of making Biodiesel expect Biodiesel to replace fossil fuels. It just won't happen. And ripping up food crops to plant palm oil for export is obscene.
Keep Biodiesel local, keep it recycled.
However, whilst all these articles circulate and while people read this and that and try to decide what to do about CC (Climate Change) - the fossil oil gets used up and the CC gets worse.
Why do we not just get on with making Biodiesel. if you make it from WVO it produces a positive energy balance figure of at least 6.0:1. This means it produces at least 6 times more energy that it consumes in making and getting it to the point of use.
Do you know what the figure for fossil diesel is?
It's 0.8:1.
In other words, a negative balance. Thats right, it takes more energy to produce and get to the point of use than it delivers in use! Unbelievable but true.
So why don't mre peple just get on and make Biodiesel. From chip fat or burger fat or courgette flower fat or whatever, as long as it's recycled waste vegetable oil from your local district.
The answer is right here, right now - stop procrastinating, just do it.
docbiodiesel
You must have seen them.
Things like, "Biodiesel is not the future", "Third World countries to starve so that the Western World can carry on driving their 4x4's" etc, etc.
This is nonsense!
I don't think even the most fervent supporters of making Biodiesel expect Biodiesel to replace fossil fuels. It just won't happen. And ripping up food crops to plant palm oil for export is obscene.
Keep Biodiesel local, keep it recycled.
However, whilst all these articles circulate and while people read this and that and try to decide what to do about CC (Climate Change) - the fossil oil gets used up and the CC gets worse.
Why do we not just get on with making Biodiesel. if you make it from WVO it produces a positive energy balance figure of at least 6.0:1. This means it produces at least 6 times more energy that it consumes in making and getting it to the point of use.
Do you know what the figure for fossil diesel is?
It's 0.8:1.
In other words, a negative balance. Thats right, it takes more energy to produce and get to the point of use than it delivers in use! Unbelievable but true.
So why don't mre peple just get on and make Biodiesel. From chip fat or burger fat or courgette flower fat or whatever, as long as it's recycled waste vegetable oil from your local district.
The answer is right here, right now - stop procrastinating, just do it.
docbiodiesel
Saturday 9 February 2008
Exploding myths about making Biodiesel
Having worked in the motor trade for around 30 years, selling cars and then running dealerships and finally doing consultancy and sales training for the major motor manufacturers I have a kind of insight into how the manufacturers work and think.
Combine this with a strong interest and active role in making Biodiesel for more than 4 years and I guess I have a rather special take on the present situation regarding Biodiesel. Particularly here in the good 'ole UK.
I try to read lots of articles and blogs on Biodiesel of course and try to post some of these to this site. In trying to keep abreast of latest news I am either amazed or dismayed at some of the so called 'information and advice' that gets published.
I am currently on a mailing list for a newsletter that trundles into my inbox 3 or 4 times a week. Written by someone in the Biodiesel business. He writes in a rather authoritative tone and yet says some complete nonsense! Anyone thinking of getting into making Biodiesel would be either alarmed or seriously put off by some of the comments. They come across not as opinion but as 'gospel'
This week he has been going on about the way that Biodiesel will attack pure rubber hoses and seals in vehicles and of course this is true. However, for someone trying to promote others into making Biodiesel I would put it differently.
For instance: while it's true that Biodiesel attacks rubber fuel lines etc on cars, tractors, lorries, vans etc, etc. Most engines built after 1994/95 used synthetic fuel lines and seals so there is no problem with using up to 100% neat Biodiesel in these.
For older equipment all you need do is buy a set of synthetic lines and seals and replace the rubber ones. That is a relatively small outlay which then enables you to take advantage of all the Biodiesel benefits! So come on, let's get positive here.
And another thing that really bugs me. This guy tells people to only follow the car makers guidelines for the use of Biodiesel. Which sounds like good sense. Except that in some European countries such as France, for some years they have sold their fossil diesel at the pumps as a B5 mixture. Meaning it comes with 5% Biodiesel in it. This is for lubrication and takes the place of the sulphur. So the manufacturers that tell British customers to not use any more than 2% Biodiesel in the UK are selling and servicing identicle cars in Europe that run quite happily on B5.
The big revelation however is that these same cars will run on B100. The reason car manufacturers try to disuade owners from using homemade fuel is simple. They don't want to expose themselves to warranty claims from people who make 'dodgy' home made gloop in their kitchens or worse, try to run straight vegetable oil (SVO) in their new Ford or Honda or Merc in the mistaken belief that this is Biodiesel!
Proper Biodiesel made by the transesterification process will run in almost any diesel engine, so there.
I am beginning to think that I need to mount a much more aggressive campaign to counter all of this wishy washy, negative style, misleading output surrounding Biodiesel.
The stuff is good, cheap, accessible to almost everyone and you can make it yourself at home. It will run in almost ANY diesel engine without modification usually or at the worst you may have to fit some new fuel lines and seals and renew your filters - what's not to like??
So if you are hesitating about either using or making Biodiesel, don't listen to people who simply spout off about the subject based upon what they have read, read from someone who has made the stuff, sold the stuff and used the stuff for years. I know, I was that man!
Keep reading it here folks. And look out for some interesting new developments coming soon.
docbiodiesel
Combine this with a strong interest and active role in making Biodiesel for more than 4 years and I guess I have a rather special take on the present situation regarding Biodiesel. Particularly here in the good 'ole UK.
I try to read lots of articles and blogs on Biodiesel of course and try to post some of these to this site. In trying to keep abreast of latest news I am either amazed or dismayed at some of the so called 'information and advice' that gets published.
I am currently on a mailing list for a newsletter that trundles into my inbox 3 or 4 times a week. Written by someone in the Biodiesel business. He writes in a rather authoritative tone and yet says some complete nonsense! Anyone thinking of getting into making Biodiesel would be either alarmed or seriously put off by some of the comments. They come across not as opinion but as 'gospel'
This week he has been going on about the way that Biodiesel will attack pure rubber hoses and seals in vehicles and of course this is true. However, for someone trying to promote others into making Biodiesel I would put it differently.
For instance: while it's true that Biodiesel attacks rubber fuel lines etc on cars, tractors, lorries, vans etc, etc. Most engines built after 1994/95 used synthetic fuel lines and seals so there is no problem with using up to 100% neat Biodiesel in these.
For older equipment all you need do is buy a set of synthetic lines and seals and replace the rubber ones. That is a relatively small outlay which then enables you to take advantage of all the Biodiesel benefits! So come on, let's get positive here.
And another thing that really bugs me. This guy tells people to only follow the car makers guidelines for the use of Biodiesel. Which sounds like good sense. Except that in some European countries such as France, for some years they have sold their fossil diesel at the pumps as a B5 mixture. Meaning it comes with 5% Biodiesel in it. This is for lubrication and takes the place of the sulphur. So the manufacturers that tell British customers to not use any more than 2% Biodiesel in the UK are selling and servicing identicle cars in Europe that run quite happily on B5.
The big revelation however is that these same cars will run on B100. The reason car manufacturers try to disuade owners from using homemade fuel is simple. They don't want to expose themselves to warranty claims from people who make 'dodgy' home made gloop in their kitchens or worse, try to run straight vegetable oil (SVO) in their new Ford or Honda or Merc in the mistaken belief that this is Biodiesel!
Proper Biodiesel made by the transesterification process will run in almost any diesel engine, so there.
I am beginning to think that I need to mount a much more aggressive campaign to counter all of this wishy washy, negative style, misleading output surrounding Biodiesel.
The stuff is good, cheap, accessible to almost everyone and you can make it yourself at home. It will run in almost ANY diesel engine without modification usually or at the worst you may have to fit some new fuel lines and seals and renew your filters - what's not to like??
So if you are hesitating about either using or making Biodiesel, don't listen to people who simply spout off about the subject based upon what they have read, read from someone who has made the stuff, sold the stuff and used the stuff for years. I know, I was that man!
Keep reading it here folks. And look out for some interesting new developments coming soon.
docbiodiesel
Friday 8 February 2008
Making Biodiesel gives health benefits latest....
International Health Journal Features Biodiesel’s Benefits~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Alliance & Backer Member: Biodiesel’s value to human health receives international attention in the new special issue of Inhalation Toxicology, the key forum for international exchange of the latest advances in pulmonary toxicology available at http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1717150241-3991908/title~content=g782811589~db=all. "The use of biodiesel is an important medical, public health, social and economic issue, one that health and medical scientists, epidemiologists, toxicologists, and policymakers cannot afford to ignore," states Dr. Bailus Walker, Jr. PhD, MPH who served as the guest editor of the special issue. The publication features contributions by Dr. Jonathan M. Samet of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture Senior Economist James A. Duffield, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Principal Engineer Robert McCormick and Medford New Jersey Township Director of Operations and Technology Joe Biluck, Jr. Have you ever wondered how much you’re helping clean the air through your use of biodiesel? There’s a tool available on the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) website that can calculate emissions reductions based on the amount of biodiesel and the blend level you’re using. Just visit http://www.biodiesel.org/tools/calculator/default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieS to see what a difference you’re making by using cleaner burning biodiesel. You can help spread the word about biodiesel by forwarding this to a friend here, http://nbb.grassroots.com/FY08AB/F2F/.
Monday 4 February 2008
National Biodiesel Board Conference USA
There's a great blog going on right now during the annual NBB conference in the USA right now. Check it out, anyone who is into making Biodiesel should catch up with the latest developments here: http://blog.biodieselconference.org/?p=109
docbiodiesel
docbiodiesel
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