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Biodiesel gets more efficient at returning energy
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Biodiesel
is better than ever at harnessing the power of the sun and turning it into
fuel. In fact, a study shows the fuel is returning more than four times the
energy that it takes to make biodiesel.
Newly published
research from the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of
Agriculture shows that for every one unit of fossil energy needed to
produce biodiesel, the return is 4.56 units. This energy-in, energy-out
ratio is "energy balance."
"Our research shows continued progress in the renewability of
biodiesel production," said University of Idaho Department of
Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Dev Shrestha.
"Farmers, soybean processors and biodiesel producers are getting even
better at using non-fossil resources and adopting other efficiencies that
are leading to greater energy returns."
The latest report from the University of Idaho shows energy used to produce
biodiesel from soy (including cultivating, harvesting, transporting,
crushing, processing, and fuel transport) compared to the final energy
gained from the renewable fuel is constantly moving toward greater energy
efficiency.
In 1998 the energy balance was 3.2:1. Improvements in energy balance result
from farming techniques that require less fuel and other inputs, more
efficient soybean crushing, and more efficient conversion to biodiesel. By
2015, the balance is projected to reach 5.44:1.
Petroleum diesel has a negative energy balance and yields only 0.83 units
of usable energy per unit of fossil energy consumed.
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Survey Says...."Biodiesel" as awareness triples
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 Five years ago
barely a fourth of people had heard of biodiesel. Today, a wide majority
are at least familiar with the renewable fuel. The National Biodiesel Board
works to raise awareness and build confidence in biodiesel, and those
efforts are paying off.
According to a survey conducted by Moore Information in August, 86 percent
of people have heard of biodiesel. That compares to just 27 percent in June
04. The internet based survey sampled a representative group of registered
voters.
That's not all the numbers show. People are also becoming more familiar
with biodiesel. In 2004, 8 percent of people were familiar with biodiesel,
today it's 48 percent.
The survey also demonstrated that people's view of biodiesel is widely
positive. Also, 80 percent of consumers said they would use the fuel, which
is more than ever before.
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Michigan school buses go the “extra miles” on
biodiesel
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 School bus
driver Linda Rogers remembers the winter days with thick, blue smoke
fouling the air around the buses. That was before her district switched to
a B20 biodiesel blend.
"Since switching to biodiesel, it is much cleaner and smells much
better," the 20-year veteran of the St. Johns, Mich. Public Schools
said. "It is a much better work environment and much healthier for the
kids and the community."
The school district's switch to B20 in 2002 came from the persistence of
Wayne Hettler, Garage Foreman & Head Mechanic for St. Johns. His
foresight has led to a reported track record of bus longevity and reduced
service needs, saving the school district money.
In October, "bus #14" rolled over 300,000 miles – a
majority of those on B20. Hettler attributes this longevity and its low
maintenance costs to B20. In addition, because biodiesel adds lubricity to
the engines, St. Johns has extended the intervals between oil changes,
cutting filter costs by more than half. Fourteen of St. Johns' 28 buses
have over 200,000 miles on them and total bus fleet mileage is well over 3
million miles on B20.
Hettler adds, "I think I'd have a revolt on my hands if we ever went
away from the biodiesel. And, I know without a doubt that driver
absenteeism has also gone down since we've fueled with B20. Using B20 has
extended the life of our buses and saved our tax payers money without jeopardizing
safety."
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Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Impact and a very near deadline
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 You'll have to wait a few months
for the next Biodiesel Conference and Expo (set for February 7-10, 2010),
but the Early Bird deadline is less than two weeks away. You can save
hundreds on your registration, simply by signing up before November 13th.
You can find information online www.biodieselconference.org
or call (303) 798-3664.
The seventh annual conference will be at the Gaylord Texan Resort &
Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The event features expanded
networking and interaction opportunities as well as the outstanding
education and outreach you have come to expect from the biodiesel
industry's premier event.
Take advantage of the top to bottom, producer to end user spectrum always
on hand at the conference. Don't miss the one event and one week where
biodiesel leaders convene, collaborate and set the stage for the deals that
shape the industry.
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Greenfleet Conference provides venue for biodiesel brag books
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 NBB recently
took part in the Greenfleet Conference in Chicago, IL. The event was a
two-day look at alternative energy source options and technologies for
fleets and fleet leaders.
More than 250 fleet leaders were on hand to hear from alternative energy
experts, suppliers, support products, associations, and government
organizations. Biodiesel stood out as a seamless and relative cost
effective way to reduce carbon output and reduce dependence on fossil
fuels.
Biodiesel was often a part of presenters' and moderators' discussions.
Jeffery Tews with the City of Milwaukee shared his experience with
biodiesel on the alternative fuel panel session. Also, several fleet
managers visited NBB's booth to learn more about biodiesel, ask questions
or share their success stories.
Fleet managers from the University of Michigan and Northern Illinois
University had plenty to say about biodiesel. Both have been operating
fleets on biodiesel blends for nearly 10 years. Hopefully their good
experiences rubbed off on some of their colleagues and they'll soon join
the fast growing list of biodiesel users.
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CLIF BAR GreenNotes™ Continues to tout biodiesel
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 CLIF® BAR GreenNotes™,
a collaboration of musical acts and environmental action, is again
promoting the use of biodiesel in tour buses as it works with a new group
of emerging musicians to reduce the environmental impact of their tours.
"Now in its fifth year, our program is designed to reach out to
emerging artists and provide them with the resources they might not
otherwise have to implement eco-friendly touring practices," said
Lauren Hatfield, who directs the CLIF BAR GreenNotes™ program.
GreenNotes™ is working with the following artists this fall:
- Ingrid Michaelson: Best known for smart love
songs like million-seller "The Way I Am," the indie
singer/songwriter has had her music aired on popular TV shows like
Grey's Anatomy. She says one of the benefits of teaming up with
GreenNotes is that "I'm using biodiesel fuel for the gas guzzling
bus."
- Josh Ritter: The son of two neuroscientists
has been named one of the 100 Greatest Living Songwriters by Paste
Magazine, alongside Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young.
- Sam Roberts Band: The Canadian rock
singer/songwriter has won six Juno Awards (Canada's version of a
Grammy). His debut album became one of the best-selling releases in
Canadian music history.
For
more information about CLIF® BAR GreenNotes™ visit: http://www.clifgreennotes.com/.
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Biodiesel user honored with Indiana leadership award
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In part
for its biodiesel use, the City of Fort Wayne earned the Indiana Department
of Agriculture’s Paul Dana Excellence in Bioenergy Leadership Award.
The City started using alternative fuels in 2005 with a blend of B20
biodiesel into the diesel fleet and 37 flex-fuel police vehicles. Since
then the City has used more than 180,000 gallons of biodiesel in blends
from B2 to B20 and are on track to use over 50,000 gallons of biodiesel in
2009. Their alternative energy highlights also include flex fuel and E85
vehicles.
"The use of biofuels creates a win-win for Fort Wayne and
Indiana," Mayor Tom Henry said. "Renewable fuels and hybrid
vehicles are the future of energy use yet the City is doing it right now
and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Indiana is also a leading
producer of corn and soybeans, which is used to produce ethanol and
biodiesel, so we are supporting Hoosier farmers too."
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NBB Alliance Member touts biodiesel in the Northeast
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 Guardian Fuel & Energy
Systems, Inc., makes its home in Westerly, RI, yet the company's biodiesel
outreach efforts have been heard nationwide.
Late this summer they successfully launched biodiesel at pumps at the Haley
Brook Market in Mystic, CT. After the launch the pumps saw a 13 percent
increase in diesel sales over the same period last year since switching to
biodiesel.
About the same time, the group fueled Keith Urban's tour at Mohegan Sun, a
pit stop that circulated online publications and music journals for weeks.
They also had a role in an MTV documentary with the WIN-TGIF (Westerly
Innovation Network - Turn Grease Into Fuel). The outcome has a tie to
BioHeat heating oil, biodiesel blended with home heating oil. The video is
expected to be aired this month on cable on Internet channels world-wide.
For more information about NBB's alliance and backer program visit our web site.
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Upcoming Events
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November
30-December 2
Vancouver, British Columbia
6th Annual Canadian Renewable Fuels Association Summit
Register now for the 6th Annual Canadian Renewable Fuels Association
Summit, taking place November 30th – December 2nd, 2009 in beautiful
Vancouver, British Columbia. Joe Jobe is scheduled to speak along with
several notable biodiesel and energy leaders.
Early Bird rates only available until October 31st. Register online at www.crfs2009.com/content/registration.
Please visit "biodiesel
events" on biodiesel.org for more.
The NBB Family of Web Sites
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