Biodiesel

Biodiesel is the common name for a variety of ester-based oxygenated fuels made from vegetable oils or animal fats. The concept of using these oils as a fuel dates back to when Dr. Rudolf Diesel developed the first diesel engine to run on vegetable oil in 1895.

Today’s diesel engines require a clean-burning, stable fuel that performs well under a variety of operating conditions. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that can be used directly in any existing, unmodified diesel engine. Because it has similar properties to petroleum diesel fuel, biodiesel can be blended in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel. Many US federal and state fleet vehicles, along with an increasing amount of large corporations, are already using biodiesel blends in their existing diesel engines.

The low emissions and decreased environmental risk factors of biodiesel make it an ideal fuel for use in marine areas, national parks, forests, and heavily polluted cities. Biodiesel has many advantages as a transport fuel, both economically and environmentally. For example, biodiesel can be produced from domestically grown oilseed plants such as canola. Producing biodiesel from domestic crops reduces Australia's dependence on foreign petroleum, increases agricultural revenue, and creates jobs.