Key Advantages of Biodiesel

The burning of fossil fuels such as petroleum, gas and diesel to power our industry and vehicles put enormous amounts of Carbon Dioxide pollution into the atmosphere adding to global warming and damage to the world’s flora and fauna.

Fossil fuels are a limited resource with a predicted cessation in the next 10 to 20 years time. Most countries are not self sufficient in fuel supply and therefore are paying ever increasing prices to sustain their fuel needs.

Biodiesel key advantages:

- Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. It can be stored anywhere that petroleum diesel fuel is stored.

- By-products of the Biodiesel production process are very useful. For example, soy meal can be used to feed stock, and glycerine has medical applications.

- Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel. The most common blend is a mix of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel, or "B20."

- The lifecycle production and use of biodiesel produces up to 80% less carbon dioxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulphur dioxide. Combustion of biodiesel alone provides over a 90% reduction in total unburned hydrocarbons, and a 75-90% reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Biodiesel further provides significant reductions in particulates and carbon monoxide than petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel provides a slight increase or decrease in nitrogen oxides depending on engine family and testing procedures. Based on Ames Mutagenicity tests, biodiesel provides a 90% reduction in cancer risks.

- Biodiesel is 11% oxygen by weight and contains no sulphur. The use of biodiesel can extend the life of diesel engines because it is more lubricating than petroleum diesel fuel, while fuel consumption, auto ignition, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel.

- Biodiesel is safe to handle and transport because it is as biodegradable as sugar, 10 times less toxic than table salt, and has a high flashpoint of about 125°C compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which has a flash point of 55°C.

- Biodiesel can be made from domestically produced, renewable oilseed crops such as soybeans, canola, cotton seed and mustard seed - significantly contributing to the Australian economy.

- Biodiesel is a proven fuel with over 30 million successful US road miles, and over 20 years of use in Europe.

- When burned in a diesel engine, biodiesel has a more pleasant odour than petroleum diesel.

- The US Congressional Budget Office, and Department of Defence, US Department of Agriculture, and others have determined that biodiesel is the low cost alternative fuel option for fleets to meet requirements of the Energy Policy Act.