Biodiesel

FUELING CA WITH BIODIESEL

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking grease. It can be used in existing diesel engines with little or no modifications, offering a flexible option for transitioning to more sustainable fuel sources. Biodiesel blends, often designated as B5, B20, or B100, indicate the proportion of biodiesel mixed with petroleum diesel. The use of biodiesel can help expand options for alternative fuels and support agricultural industries that provide the raw materials. While it generally burns cleaner than conventional diesel, reducing certain emissions, biodiesel can also be subject to seasonal availability and variability in fuel quality. This fuel choice may require careful consideration of production and distribution logistics.

LEARN below about the BENEFITS and OBSTACLES of choosing BIODIESEL to fuel your transportation.

BENEFITS

OBSTACLES

BENEFITS

OBSTACLES

DID YOU KNOW?

Biodiesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 78% compared to petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel has a higher lubricity compared to petroleum diesel, which can help reduce wear on engine components.

As of 2021, the global production of biodiesel was approximately 40 billion liters (around 10.6 billion gallons) annually.

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What are your thoughts on BIODIESEL?

Fueling California is a community of people passionate about the future of transportation in California. Head over to our discussion forums by clicking the button below or Fuel for Thought in the website menu to see what fellow Californians think about biodiesel as a source of transportation energy.

FUELLETIN BOARD

EU's energy chief defends biofuel policies

source credit: Reuters

Citations

Devarajan, Y., Beemkumar, N., Ganesan, S., & Arunkumar, T. (2020). An experimental study on the influence of an oxygenated additive in diesel engine fuelled with neat papaya seed biodiesel/diesel blends. Fuel, 268, 117254. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117254

Navius Research Inc. (2023). 2023 Biofuels in Canada. Advanced Biofuels Canada. Retrieved from https://www.naviusresearch.com

Academic.oup.com. (n.d.). Influence of biodiesel blends on the performance and emissions of diesel engines. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ijlct/article/6/4/255/665073

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (n.d.). Biodiesel performance, costs, and use. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/biodiesel-performance.html

International Energy Agency. (2021). Biofuels – Analysis. International Energy Agency. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.iea.org/reports/biofuels

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Biodiesel benefits and considerations. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/biodiesel/benefits-and-considerations-biodiesel