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.
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
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Safeways leads the Ways...
Here's an article from America that should encourage making Biodiesel back here in the UK. If Safeway can do it why dont more companies here do it? Come to that why dont our local authorities all use Biodiesel and why are they not making Biodiesel in the first place?
Insane, in the meantime thanks to the good folks at Awake At The Wheel a really informative blog you can reach here:http://awakeatthewheel.net/
I reproduce the article from their site below:
Safeway Goes Biodiesel
January 21, 2008 · No Comments
Safeway has boldly chosen to become one of the nation’s first major retailers to convert its fleet to clean burning biodiesel. No doubt the benefits of biodiesel were hard for the Pleasonton, California-based company to ignore.
In addition to improved engine performance, less harmful emissions, and a fuel source that isn’t tied to the volatility of the Middle East, none of the company’s 1,000 fleet vehicles will require any major mechanical conversion as biodiesel performs exceptionally well in any diesel motor.
docbiodiesel
Insane, in the meantime thanks to the good folks at Awake At The Wheel a really informative blog you can reach here:http://awakeatthewheel.net/
I reproduce the article from their site below:
Safeway Goes Biodiesel
January 21, 2008 · No Comments
Safeway has boldly chosen to become one of the nation’s first major retailers to convert its fleet to clean burning biodiesel. No doubt the benefits of biodiesel were hard for the Pleasonton, California-based company to ignore.
In addition to improved engine performance, less harmful emissions, and a fuel source that isn’t tied to the volatility of the Middle East, none of the company’s 1,000 fleet vehicles will require any major mechanical conversion as biodiesel performs exceptionally well in any diesel motor.
docbiodiesel
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Biodiesel Jeep
Once again we can learn a lot from our friends across the big water. They like making Biodiesel and this blog is a great insight on how easy and convenient the stuff is - read and learn:
Biodiesel Jeep (.com)
This blog lets me expound ad nauseum about renewable fuels, papers and research with which I am involved or interested. Also are updates on our current Jeep Liberty's progress on B100 and my personal quest to get Jeep to let me buy a new style Wrangler with a diesel engine here in the US.
A brief update...
By BiodieselJeep
So, let's catch up. Here's whats new to the BiodieselJeep and the biofuels family:-The BiodieselJeep is running fine. We moved to a about 30-50% splash-blend for the winter and have kept at that since then. Splash blending (for those who want to pick up some more biofuel-lingo) just means that you dump it in the tank, no muss, no fuss. That's one of the great things about biodiesel. Why 30-50%? My biodiesel container is 5 gallons, and I dump it in when it gets mid to low. No science here, just convenience.-The BiodieselJeep mileage is improving. Diesels generally get better as they break in. There is a simple mod that also got us another 1-2 mpg. Around town as a baby-carrrier the Jeep gets 23 mpg consistently. Compare that to any other mid-small sized SUVs. Which brings me to another point: The curb weight of the Jeep with the diesel option is alot closer to a mid-sized SUV than many of the small SUV's it gets compared to. A CRV? maybe. But often it gets compared to the RAV-4, which is sooo tiny. Not fair, I say! Highway with a big load and driving 70 mph: 26 mpg. At 55 we get near 30...but that just isn't realistic.-Meet the "new" Jetta, same as the "old" Jetta. I crashed the black Jetta. I cried and cried; that lil' honey could run. Cried until I got the insurance check, which was more than I paid for it!Diesels are selling for ridiculous amounts. so my insurance company paid out a market price and that took the edge off. I bought a white Jetta TDI, same year, same mileage but with more doodads and a moon-roof. To make it even better, I sold the wreck to some clever boys from Vermont who wanted to slap together a diesel hybrid. Hopefully as you read this, the FrankenJetta is haunting the Green Mountains, terrorizing gas stations with inhuman mileage. Bwoooaaaahaaahaahaaa!!!-Can't drive 55. Look, let us be honest. You and I should drive slower if we really want better mileage. All the statistics are very clear: every 4-5 mph over 55 drops your mileage by at least 1 mpg. But in my state (CT) highways are 65 mph...and everyone drives 75. Now, the white Jetta has bigger injectors and stuff, which means it really wants to fast. Fast as in not dangerous but fast as in sorry-officer-I-think-my-speedometer-is-broken. Still, I never get below 41 mpg. I could be getting close to 48...(someone is doing math right now...yes...naughty boy). The guilt haunts me at night, but sporty turbo diesels combined with autobahn engineering makes for irresistible fun.
Biodiesel running a 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
Go straight to this blog here: http://biodieseljeep.blogspot.com/
docbiodiesel
Biodiesel Jeep (.com)
This blog lets me expound ad nauseum about renewable fuels, papers and research with which I am involved or interested. Also are updates on our current Jeep Liberty's progress on B100 and my personal quest to get Jeep to let me buy a new style Wrangler with a diesel engine here in the US.
A brief update...
By BiodieselJeep
So, let's catch up. Here's whats new to the BiodieselJeep and the biofuels family:-The BiodieselJeep is running fine. We moved to a about 30-50% splash-blend for the winter and have kept at that since then. Splash blending (for those who want to pick up some more biofuel-lingo) just means that you dump it in the tank, no muss, no fuss. That's one of the great things about biodiesel. Why 30-50%? My biodiesel container is 5 gallons, and I dump it in when it gets mid to low. No science here, just convenience.-The BiodieselJeep mileage is improving. Diesels generally get better as they break in. There is a simple mod that also got us another 1-2 mpg. Around town as a baby-carrrier the Jeep gets 23 mpg consistently. Compare that to any other mid-small sized SUVs. Which brings me to another point: The curb weight of the Jeep with the diesel option is alot closer to a mid-sized SUV than many of the small SUV's it gets compared to. A CRV? maybe. But often it gets compared to the RAV-4, which is sooo tiny. Not fair, I say! Highway with a big load and driving 70 mph: 26 mpg. At 55 we get near 30...but that just isn't realistic.-Meet the "new" Jetta, same as the "old" Jetta. I crashed the black Jetta. I cried and cried; that lil' honey could run. Cried until I got the insurance check, which was more than I paid for it!Diesels are selling for ridiculous amounts. so my insurance company paid out a market price and that took the edge off. I bought a white Jetta TDI, same year, same mileage but with more doodads and a moon-roof. To make it even better, I sold the wreck to some clever boys from Vermont who wanted to slap together a diesel hybrid. Hopefully as you read this, the FrankenJetta is haunting the Green Mountains, terrorizing gas stations with inhuman mileage. Bwoooaaaahaaahaahaaa!!!-Can't drive 55. Look, let us be honest. You and I should drive slower if we really want better mileage. All the statistics are very clear: every 4-5 mph over 55 drops your mileage by at least 1 mpg. But in my state (CT) highways are 65 mph...and everyone drives 75. Now, the white Jetta has bigger injectors and stuff, which means it really wants to fast. Fast as in not dangerous but fast as in sorry-officer-I-think-my-speedometer-is-broken. Still, I never get below 41 mpg. I could be getting close to 48...(someone is doing math right now...yes...naughty boy). The guilt haunts me at night, but sporty turbo diesels combined with autobahn engineering makes for irresistible fun.
Biodiesel running a 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
Go straight to this blog here: http://biodieseljeep.blogspot.com/
docbiodiesel
Monday, 21 January 2008
And now for something completely different!....
You know how when you stumble across a company offering exceptional service or product (usually it's the service that makes the BIG impression) you feel you want to tell everyone about it? Well here is the first of an occasional series of references to such people.
Totally not connected in anyway to making Biodiesel, these guys offer great pens/pencils and even better service - awesome. Try them the next time you want a pen or refill:
http://www.cultpens.com/index.html
docbiodiesel
Totally not connected in anyway to making Biodiesel, these guys offer great pens/pencils and even better service - awesome. Try them the next time you want a pen or refill:
http://www.cultpens.com/index.html
docbiodiesel
Biodiesel News
Here's some latest news on the making Biodiesel front folks. If you go to this site there is also a good download to recieve a free newsletter link. Follow this link:http://www.biodieselfuelonline.com/biodieselblog/biodiesel-news-roundup-18-jan-2008/#comment-13
docbiodiesel
January 20, 2008
Biodiesel News Roundup 18 Jan 2008
Hey folks,
So here we go with our "weekly" round-up of biodisel goodness from around the world. I hope you enjoy it…
Safeway Go Green
The story that seems to have cropped up the most around the web this week is news that supermarket giant Safeway will now run its fleet of over 1000 trucks on biodiesel fuel across the USA.
"Our customers care about these types of sustainability issues, and we are proud to be a leader in environmental best practices," said Joe Pettus the senior vice president
China Gets Biodiesel Friendly
In the northern provnce of Hebei, around 7,000 hectares of biodiesel forest will be grown.
China is trying its best to fuel its massive and fast growing economy and its turned to biodiesel to achieve that.
Biodiesel At The Movies
Biodiesel will be featured in the upcoming film "Fields of Fuel". Josh Tickell's movie will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival this week and Tickell has used the movie to call for better support for biodiesel from politicians.
Although mainly a mouthpiece for the director's environmental preoccupations the film does offer some decent educational fodder about our favourite fuel source.
EU Bans Palm Oil Biodiesel?
Although it's Europe's aim to provide at least 10% of all vehicle fuel from biofuels by the year 2020, the EU is currently planning to ban palm oil biodiesel.
Environmentalists aruge that fuels made from palm oil are doing more damage to the environment because of the destruction of rainforests.
It seems the EU will ban any biofuel derived from "sensitive ecosystems" such as tropical forests and grasslands.
—————–
So what do we think about the EU stance - interfering with making Biodiesel progress or responsible governing attitude? Personally I believe the old adage there's no such thing as bad publicity. Particularly here in the UK where the whole making Biodiesel at home thing is still unknown to the general populace. Any publicity raises the general threshold of awareness, surely?
docbiodiesel
Saturday, 19 January 2008
The National Biodiesel Board of America
For all of you readers thinking of making Biodiesel here is a useful site from our American cousins. It will provide a lot of info if making Biodiesel or if just interested and supportive. It's a great shame that we in the UK don't have this level of support. Have a read and let me know your thoughts. There are links at the bottom. You may need to cut and paste the link into your browsers.
The Official Site of the National Biodiesel Board (USA)
BIODIESEL BACKERS is a diverse coalition of individuals, including Willie Nelson, from across the nation who find common ground in their support for biodiesel fuel. nbsp; The National Biodiesel Board founded the Biodiesel Backers program in response to growing interest from individuals who want to take advantage of new information and opportunities to help advance the use of clean-burning, renewable biodiesel fuel that meets high industry standards. Biodiesel Backers are instrumental in helping America realize the health, environmental, national energy security and rural economic benefits of biodiesel fuel, one of the cleanest, most practical fuels available today.
Biodiesel Backers operates under protocols and safeguards that are intended to protect both the credibility of Biodiesel Backers and the autonomy of individuals to speak for themselves.
BIODIESEL IS a cleaner burning, renewable fuel that offers human health, environmental, energy security and economic benefits to America. It reduces emissions associated with cancer, asthma and other health concerns as well as pollution associated with global warming. Biodiesel cuts emissions of cancer-causing compounds by 75 to 90 percent compared to those in petroleum diesel exhaust. Furthermore, biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to complete the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. Biodiesel can be made from any vegetable oil or fat. In America, biodiesel is usually made from soybean oil. Because it is domestically produced from farm crops and other renewable resources, biodiesel contributes to the U.S. economy as well as national energy security. Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine with few or no modifications and offers similar horsepower, fuel economy and torque to petroleum diesel. Hundreds of fleets and thousands of individuals currently use biodiesel blends, and biodiesel pumps are opening to the public across the nation.
BIODIESEL BACKERS PROVIDES its members with the Biodiesel Bulletin, a monthly report covering the biodiesel industry and other biodiesel issues, plus concise alerts containing new and timely information on biodiesel developments that may be of interest, including reference to opportunities to help support the advancement of biodiesel fuel.
TO JOIN, just click the link below and complete the short registration form. It costs you nothing because there are no membership dues. As a Biodiesel Backer, you are simply expressing your individual support for the increased use of biodiesel fuel across America and gaining access to timely information about new developments and opportunities to help support biodiesel fuel use.
· Click here to join the Biodiesel Backers.
· Click here to learn more about biodiesel fuel and the National Biodiesel Board.
· Click here to find out how your organization can support biodiesel by becoming a member of Biodiesel Alliance!
· If you're not ready to join the Biodiesel Backers, but would like to receive the NBB's free, monthly Biodiesel Bulletin newsletter, click here.
docbiodiesel
Friday, 18 January 2008
Prince of Wales converts his Jags to "Green"
Here is a post I found recently, although a bit out of date, it that may be of interest to anyone thinking of making Biodiesel. But I bet Charles doesn't have to get his hands oily!
Posted Dec 11th 2006 2:34PM by Sam AbuelsamidFiled under: Biodiesel, Jaguar
Traditionally, before Colin Chapman introduced a Lotus 49 in colors of Gold Leaf Tobacco, racing cars were painted in colors based on the home country of the team running them. German racers were silver, Italian red, French blue and of course cars from the British Isles were always the legendary British Racing Green. Now the Jaguars and Land Rovers that ferry the future king of England (if he manages to out-live his mother, that is) will represent a new breed of green. Prince Charles is now awaiting the delivery of the first of his fleet of chauffeur-driven (he is still a royal after all) Jags outfitted to run on B100 biodiesel. Ultimately all the vehicles he uses will run on B100, made from rapeseed oil (known in the US as canola). Starting with next year's annual accounts he will be publishing details of his household's carbon emissions and setting reduction targets. In addition to the biodiesel cars he's also taking public trains to get from his country home of Highgrove to London and switching over to sustainable sources of electricity for his residences.
This blog is from a really good site, American based, that pulls together a great deal of info on the current scene in the USA. If you are thinking of making Biodiesel you need to visit: http://www.autobloggreen.com
If you are thinking of making Biodiesel it can seem a bit of an uphill struggle in the UK. So many people are unaware of it. So articles and posts like these can help pull things into perspective. At least that's what I believe - what do you think? Do you want to read more general interest articles on the 'World of Making Biodiesel' or would you prefer more UK hands on stuff??
docbiodiesel
Posted Dec 11th 2006 2:34PM by Sam AbuelsamidFiled under: Biodiesel, Jaguar
Traditionally, before Colin Chapman introduced a Lotus 49 in colors of Gold Leaf Tobacco, racing cars were painted in colors based on the home country of the team running them. German racers were silver, Italian red, French blue and of course cars from the British Isles were always the legendary British Racing Green. Now the Jaguars and Land Rovers that ferry the future king of England (if he manages to out-live his mother, that is) will represent a new breed of green. Prince Charles is now awaiting the delivery of the first of his fleet of chauffeur-driven (he is still a royal after all) Jags outfitted to run on B100 biodiesel. Ultimately all the vehicles he uses will run on B100, made from rapeseed oil (known in the US as canola). Starting with next year's annual accounts he will be publishing details of his household's carbon emissions and setting reduction targets. In addition to the biodiesel cars he's also taking public trains to get from his country home of Highgrove to London and switching over to sustainable sources of electricity for his residences.
This blog is from a really good site, American based, that pulls together a great deal of info on the current scene in the USA. If you are thinking of making Biodiesel you need to visit: http://www.autobloggreen.com
If you are thinking of making Biodiesel it can seem a bit of an uphill struggle in the UK. So many people are unaware of it. So articles and posts like these can help pull things into perspective. At least that's what I believe - what do you think? Do you want to read more general interest articles on the 'World of Making Biodiesel' or would you prefer more UK hands on stuff??
docbiodiesel
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Glimpse of California Diesel Life
Biodiesel Ready Vehicles Begin Landing in California
October 16, 2007 ·
San Jose Mercury News
Mercedes-Benz started leasing diesel-powered sedans in California Monday, the first new diesel passenger cars available in the state in nearly a decade.
Mercedes “has developed a diesel emission control system that results in a car as clean as comparable gasoline vehicles being sold here,” Tom Cackette, head of the California’s Air Resources Board, said in a statement.
The company said the car gets 20 to 40 percent better fuel efficiency than a comparable car with a gasoline engine and has a 700-mile range. According to the federal government, the ‘08 E320 Bluetec gets 23 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway. The gasoline-powered E350 gets 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
Volkswagen has said it would put a diesel version of its Jetta compact that meets California emissions regulations on sale in early 2008. Other automakers are expected to start selling diesels here by the end of the decade.
Read more on this great site here:http://awakeatthewheel.net/
docbiodiesel
Fellow blogger's Home Trial
I thought this blog might be of interest to readers thinking of making Biodiesel at home:
1st Big batch!
By MJ Panton
Today I made a batch in the processor !
I moved 96 litres of Waste oil into the processor, heated to 55C and added the 21.5 litres of Methanol and NaOH. It then circulated for 2 hours and then settled for another hour. I then drained off from the bottom of the tank about 18 litres of dark red liquid (glycerin) until the liquid became a golden yellow/wheat colour.
Here's a sample:
It looks pretty cloudy as there's still a few impurities in there. These will drop out (and be filtered out) once the left over methanol is removed. This is done through evaporation (from heating or naturally to the surrounding air). I heated this sample on the hob and took it to about 70c (around 160F) for 5 mins. Once it had cooled a little I decanted it (there was a distinct puddle of dark "stuff" (liquid and a few lumps) in the bottom) and filtered it through a coffee filter (Google suggests a coffee filter is around 20 microns).
In this shot, you can see the line of the darker liquid and the line at the edge of the bio.
The resulting liquid is much clearer!
I also did a quick test known as the 3 in 27 or 3/27 test. You take 27ml of methanol and add 3ml of the biodiesel (ie the sample). once added, you shake/mix for 5 seconds and then look to see if there is any separation. If the process is incomplete, there will be a "bubble" (a bit like in a spirit level) under the methanol. if there is no bubble, it means the reaction is at or around 96% complete (which is good!). This batch had NO bubble!
You can reach this site here: http://thebiodieselcook.blogspot.com/2007/10/1st-big-batch.html and follow his trials in building a really good looking home kit! This just shows that you can start making Biodiesel at home too!
docbiodiesel
1st Big batch!
By MJ Panton
Today I made a batch in the processor !
I moved 96 litres of Waste oil into the processor, heated to 55C and added the 21.5 litres of Methanol and NaOH. It then circulated for 2 hours and then settled for another hour. I then drained off from the bottom of the tank about 18 litres of dark red liquid (glycerin) until the liquid became a golden yellow/wheat colour.
Here's a sample:
It looks pretty cloudy as there's still a few impurities in there. These will drop out (and be filtered out) once the left over methanol is removed. This is done through evaporation (from heating or naturally to the surrounding air). I heated this sample on the hob and took it to about 70c (around 160F) for 5 mins. Once it had cooled a little I decanted it (there was a distinct puddle of dark "stuff" (liquid and a few lumps) in the bottom) and filtered it through a coffee filter (Google suggests a coffee filter is around 20 microns).
In this shot, you can see the line of the darker liquid and the line at the edge of the bio.
The resulting liquid is much clearer!
I also did a quick test known as the 3 in 27 or 3/27 test. You take 27ml of methanol and add 3ml of the biodiesel (ie the sample). once added, you shake/mix for 5 seconds and then look to see if there is any separation. If the process is incomplete, there will be a "bubble" (a bit like in a spirit level) under the methanol. if there is no bubble, it means the reaction is at or around 96% complete (which is good!). This batch had NO bubble!
You can reach this site here: http://thebiodieselcook.blogspot.com/2007/10/1st-big-batch.html and follow his trials in building a really good looking home kit! This just shows that you can start making Biodiesel at home too!
docbiodiesel
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Sourcing product
I get regularly asked "but where can I get waste vegetable oil (WVO) from?" The answer is from lots of places and the price will vary. It varies from nil to about 60 cents (30p) per litre. Now if you are making Biodiesel at home and produce less than 2,500 litres a year and live in the island called UK you can make it TAX FREE! Yep our Gov. has decided to let all you good people have a years worth of fuel fro free.
So it's even more important to be able to source low cost or free WVO. That way you can spend more money on you and less on transport costs!
Where to start? Making Biodiesel is all about the OIL. Quite simply, no oil - no fuel! As an aside, I suppose, with the tax free benefits it is also worth considering NEW vegetable oil at a push, but see paragraph 2 above. No, if you are tempted to make Biodiesel at home you need to first of all establish a source of WVO.
This easy. Just go into your local pub, restaurant, hotel, chippy, fast food outlet, school, college or similar institution that fries food (most of them, right?) - and here's what you do. You ask if you can take away their nasty used up oil. Simple as that! Beware though, once you get an agreement to take it away, you have to take it away, regularly - like every week. To them it is just a waste product to be disposed of.
Now if you've been wondering if people really are making Biodiesel at home, here is a way of testing the water. When you ask if you can have the WVO for free, if they say no. Ask why? If the answer is that their supplier is paying them to take it away you know that making Biodiesel is really catching on, in your area anyway. Making Biodiesel is really starting to become established. What I really like about this is that it is largely staying local. What I mean is that a lot of people are making Biodiesel at home from re-cycling local WVO. This means - local fuel for local people! More importantly perhaps it is re-cycling a waste product that normally goes to land fill. This in itself is a very good thing and an extra plus. So lots and lots of local communities are benefiting from this new fuel phenomenon. Everybody wins don't they? Where is the downside here??
Having said that I am sure there must be some of you reading this who will now proceed to tell me about the downsides. If so, please make it constructive and not just a personal rant - OK? have we got a deal?
Other sources of WVO? Well one of the best is eBay of course. Over the last year there has been a steady rise in the number and variety of items listed under Biodiesel - take a look. Not only chemicals for the catalyst but hardware, small systems and importantly WVO and new oil.
Next rant will be about eBay.
docbiodiesel
So it's even more important to be able to source low cost or free WVO. That way you can spend more money on you and less on transport costs!
Where to start? Making Biodiesel is all about the OIL. Quite simply, no oil - no fuel! As an aside, I suppose, with the tax free benefits it is also worth considering NEW vegetable oil at a push, but see paragraph 2 above. No, if you are tempted to make Biodiesel at home you need to first of all establish a source of WVO.
This easy. Just go into your local pub, restaurant, hotel, chippy, fast food outlet, school, college or similar institution that fries food (most of them, right?) - and here's what you do. You ask if you can take away their nasty used up oil. Simple as that! Beware though, once you get an agreement to take it away, you have to take it away, regularly - like every week. To them it is just a waste product to be disposed of.
Now if you've been wondering if people really are making Biodiesel at home, here is a way of testing the water. When you ask if you can have the WVO for free, if they say no. Ask why? If the answer is that their supplier is paying them to take it away you know that making Biodiesel is really catching on, in your area anyway. Making Biodiesel is really starting to become established. What I really like about this is that it is largely staying local. What I mean is that a lot of people are making Biodiesel at home from re-cycling local WVO. This means - local fuel for local people! More importantly perhaps it is re-cycling a waste product that normally goes to land fill. This in itself is a very good thing and an extra plus. So lots and lots of local communities are benefiting from this new fuel phenomenon. Everybody wins don't they? Where is the downside here??
Having said that I am sure there must be some of you reading this who will now proceed to tell me about the downsides. If so, please make it constructive and not just a personal rant - OK? have we got a deal?
Other sources of WVO? Well one of the best is eBay of course. Over the last year there has been a steady rise in the number and variety of items listed under Biodiesel - take a look. Not only chemicals for the catalyst but hardware, small systems and importantly WVO and new oil.
Next rant will be about eBay.
docbiodiesel
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Stifled Progress
You find something good, something which helps and which looks a certain winner. You do a bit of research and it still looks good. You get excited! You cannot quite believe how good you feel at having found this 'something' and then you gradually realise there is a problem. Sound familiar/ Well this happened to me some time ago when I started making Biodiesel.
Making Biodiesel at home seemed a good way forward on many fronts. I was employed by a company who asked me to drive all around the country but in return paid me a healthy business mileage to do so. So I had a financial incentive to find a cheaper fuel. I'll be honest that was the main 'driver' in making biodiesel. i then realised, with relief, that in trying to maximise my travel expenses I had discovered a way to help a load more people than just myself. Making Biodiesel in fact was going to help the whole planet!
I doubt if many people are reading this and are unaware of Biodiesel. That's why you are here, right? Well being trained never to assume, I will just quickly state that Biodiesel is a wonderfull product and here's why: made from re-cycled waste vegetable oil or WVO (used cooking oil actually) it saves on rubbish being taken to land fill first of all, then it allows the user to run his or her car/boat/generator/central heating/van/coach/tractor etc instead of using 'fossil fuel'. It is classed as carbon neutral and generally speaking most people agree that as it is made from regular cooking oil that would have been thrown away it is a "good thing",
Well anyway the reason I called this post 'Stifled Progress' is now revealed. Making biodiesel is not regarded as a good thing by everyone. And I don't mean it is the Oil Baron's who disapprove. I mean our own Government. Yep, the people we voted for to run our precious country don't seem to want to help encourage this cottage industry to flourish. Now one could argue that the change to the excise duty and regulation last year was a positive step in our "Making Biodiesel at Home" journey. The thing is, the more cynical amongst us point out that letting people make Biodiesel at home for home consumption up to 2,500 litres was done to avoid having to regulate a newly expanding phenomenon. They (HM Gov) simply do not have the staff to carry out all the visits necessary to regulate the small producer making Biodiesel at home.
No the thing that really winds me up is the way they sneakily brought in the legislation to regularly put the duty on biofuels up every year. The public, understandably, overlook the fact that excise duty on both fossil and bio fuels goes up again in April. So unlike a lot of our European cousins who pay no duty on Biofuels at all ( their Governments seem to want to encourage the production and use of planet friendly Biodiesel etc.) our lot, despite crowing about how terribly green they all are and how they are setting the agenda on carbon reduction and climate change, really just want to collect as much TAX as possible. So less people are encouraged to make Biodiesel. Making less Biodiesel is the wrong way - we should all be making Biodiesel in our own communities. 'Local fuel for local people@ as they say.
I am now decided; I will try to help as many folk as I can to make Biodiesel at home or at work or on the allotment or in their garage or wherever! I am setting up a website shortly and will attempt to bring together all the latest news, reports, ebooks, newsletters etc so that as many people as possible can start making Biodiesel - here endeth the lesson. More later, happy days.
Making Biodiesel at home seemed a good way forward on many fronts. I was employed by a company who asked me to drive all around the country but in return paid me a healthy business mileage to do so. So I had a financial incentive to find a cheaper fuel. I'll be honest that was the main 'driver' in making biodiesel. i then realised, with relief, that in trying to maximise my travel expenses I had discovered a way to help a load more people than just myself. Making Biodiesel in fact was going to help the whole planet!
I doubt if many people are reading this and are unaware of Biodiesel. That's why you are here, right? Well being trained never to assume, I will just quickly state that Biodiesel is a wonderfull product and here's why: made from re-cycled waste vegetable oil or WVO (used cooking oil actually) it saves on rubbish being taken to land fill first of all, then it allows the user to run his or her car/boat/generator/central heating/van/coach/tractor etc instead of using 'fossil fuel'. It is classed as carbon neutral and generally speaking most people agree that as it is made from regular cooking oil that would have been thrown away it is a "good thing",
Well anyway the reason I called this post 'Stifled Progress' is now revealed. Making biodiesel is not regarded as a good thing by everyone. And I don't mean it is the Oil Baron's who disapprove. I mean our own Government. Yep, the people we voted for to run our precious country don't seem to want to help encourage this cottage industry to flourish. Now one could argue that the change to the excise duty and regulation last year was a positive step in our "Making Biodiesel at Home" journey. The thing is, the more cynical amongst us point out that letting people make Biodiesel at home for home consumption up to 2,500 litres was done to avoid having to regulate a newly expanding phenomenon. They (HM Gov) simply do not have the staff to carry out all the visits necessary to regulate the small producer making Biodiesel at home.
No the thing that really winds me up is the way they sneakily brought in the legislation to regularly put the duty on biofuels up every year. The public, understandably, overlook the fact that excise duty on both fossil and bio fuels goes up again in April. So unlike a lot of our European cousins who pay no duty on Biofuels at all ( their Governments seem to want to encourage the production and use of planet friendly Biodiesel etc.) our lot, despite crowing about how terribly green they all are and how they are setting the agenda on carbon reduction and climate change, really just want to collect as much TAX as possible. So less people are encouraged to make Biodiesel. Making less Biodiesel is the wrong way - we should all be making Biodiesel in our own communities. 'Local fuel for local people@ as they say.
I am now decided; I will try to help as many folk as I can to make Biodiesel at home or at work or on the allotment or in their garage or wherever! I am setting up a website shortly and will attempt to bring together all the latest news, reports, ebooks, newsletters etc so that as many people as possible can start making Biodiesel - here endeth the lesson. More later, happy days.
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