How to help reduce Global Warming by using Biodiesel by Mervyn Rees

Views from around the World on

Global Warming:

How to help reduce Global Warming by using Biodiesel

Biodiesel and the Kyoto Protocol

Hi Merv Rees here,

I thought I would chat about some aspects affecting making biodiesel.

The Kyoto Protocol goes by a number of aliases: The Kyoto Treaty, The Kyoto Accord, or Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

It does not stand alone but is actually an amendment to a larger body of work by the United Nations on climate change. The larger body of work is a treaty on managing environmental change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. It came into being in 1992 at a summit in Rio de Janeiro, but since it is a treaty and does not hold countries accountable to make any changes, an amendment was added to it, called a protocol, to help nations take action in response to the treaty. The goal is to stabilize the amount and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Since then, the Kyoto Protocol has eclipsed the treaty itself in terms of assumed effectiveness and controversy. Countries who choose to ratify the Kyoto Protocol are committing to the reduction of six greenhouse gas emissions including carbon monoxide, or developing measures to deal with those commitments if they cannot fill them.

There were two conditions for the Kyoto Protocol to enter into force. The first condition was that not fewer than 55 participants in the convention need to ratify the protocol. This was reached on May 23, 2002 when Iceland ratified the protocol. The second condition was that countries who participated in producing a leased 55% of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 needed to ratify the protocol as well. Russia's ratification on November 18, 2004 met the second condition needed to put the Kyoto Protocol into force. 90 days after the conditions were met, on February 16th 2005, the Kyoto Protocol entered into force.

The United States and Australia have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. In spite of that, 157 nations have ratified the protocol, which represents 61% of global greenhouse gas production.

The legally binding protocol calls for countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2%, compared to the emissions produced in 1990. While the average is 5.2% different countries have different targets to aim for: Japan needs to reduce its emissions by 6%, Australia by 8%, the US by 7%, and Iceland by 10%. The reduction needs to affect the following greenhouse gases:

* carbon dioxide

* methane

* nitrous oxide

* sulfur hexafluoride

* HFCs

* PFCs

Countries who exceed these targets earn "credits" that they can sell to other countries that are not yet able to meet those targets. Credits are also earned by countries with large forested regions that turned carbon dioxide into oxygen. So countries who can quickly exceed emissions standards or who can create Kyoto Protocol forest areas have financial incentive to do so.

Cleaner, breathable air, a clearer sky, and a reduction in global warming are noble pursuits. So why has the Kyoto Protocol received so much controversy and attention and has not been ratified by everyone?

Objections and criticisms

There are a number of objections and criticisms to the Kyoto Protocol. Here are some of them:

* By 2050, if the Kyoto Protocol is successful, the global warming trend will be reduced by one third to one half of a degree annually. Unless other changes are made, Kyoto Protocol will be ineffective at reducing global warming in a largely measurable way.

* Both the United States and Australia have not ratified the protocol because of concerns over the economic ramifications resulting from sweeping changes that need to be made by industries. Other countries, like Canada, have ratified the protocol but with a lot of national controversy for the same reason.

* Credits earned from planting a 'Kyoto Protocol Forest' sound like a great idea except that the first 10 years of a new forest tends to produce more carbon dioxide than it reduces, because new forests help to release carbon dioxide that is locked in the ground.

* China, who is the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world is exempt from ratifying the Kyoto protocol or being bound to it because it does not belong to a specific class of countries: ones who were producing excessive greenhouse gases during the growth in industry that the UN feels contributed to current concentrations. In fact, China's usage is on the rise, increasing 40% between 1990 and 2003.

* Because of the variety of credit-selling opportunities as well as responsibilities to share knowledge with non-industrialized countries, some people see the Kyoto Protocol as a global social movement to spread wealth from the "have" countries to the "have-not" countries instead of effectively addressing climate change.

* As well, the law of supply and demand suggests that a reduction in fossil fuel usage by industrialized nations will lead to a reduction in overall price for fossil fuels, allowing non-industrialized nations, who are not bound by the Kyoto Protocol, to burn more fossil fuels at a cheaper price without any restrictions.

* Lastly, critics say that the Kyoto Protocol only addresses the problem with an immediate, short-term solution. Critics suggest that the Kyoto Protocol, or something like it, needs to address greater issues such as population explosion which has a huge effect on global warming.

Who wins?

If the Kyoto Protocol is successful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we will all win with a reduction in global warming. But there are others who will win in a different way:

* Kyoto Protocol measurements are based on emissions produced in 1990 and ratifying countries are measured against that number as a benchmark. Russia, however, because of its collapse will easily meet its 1990 number, and its benchmark is set at 0%. This means that it should constantly generate credits which can be purchased by other countries. This means that reactionary spending by other countries will push millions of dollars to Russia.

* The Kyoto Protocol also requires industrialized nations to provide information and support to non-industrialized nations attempting to make leaps and bounds in technology and power generation. So countries like the United States will be expected to provide assistance and support to countries like India and China who both have a lot of people and are struggling to become industrialized nations. In both cases, by supporting the Kyoto Protocol, they receive assistance but have no parameters in which to operate once they do achieve industrialization.

Alternative Energy:

Efforts to find affordable replacements to current vehicle fuel choices, biodiesel has quickly become one of the leading alternatives learn The Secrets of Biodiesel by checking out my website whybiodiesel http://www.whybiodiesel.com

Biodiesel is considered a renewable eco-friendly resource derived from vegetable oil or animal fats. Once the vegetable oil or animal fat is processed it becomes a combustible material, like the petroleum-based diesel currently used today in many vehicles. In fact, it is used daily around the world, and is rapidly becoming the main stay of a lot of family budgets already with ever increasing popularity.

Biodiesel can and is being produced from rapeseed, soybeans, algae, palm oil, hemp, lard, and mustard seed, in fact any vegetable oil source, and yes even waste vegetable oil, fish oil and any animal fats. In fact, the August 2005 edition of National Geographic reported one biodiesel user who got his waste vegetable oil free from a local potato chip shop and spent eight dollars a month to turn it into biodiesel, which as we know is common practice now in many places.

Some of the benefits of biodiesel include:

* Biodiesel is an excellent way to use the vegetable oil and animal fats produced today, solving the hugely potential problem of waste used products otherwise disposed of badly and the past problems that caused.

* Biodiesel is biodegradable on the land or in water.

* Biodiesel is nontoxic

* Biodiesel can be safer in accidents because it has a much higher flash point (300° Fahrenheit) than regular diesel or gasoline, and is considered a non-hazardous material.

* Biodiesel is a better solvent, so it cleans engines that have been dirtied and stained, by long-term use of regular petroleum diesel.

* Biodiesel can be used right now in any concentration with current petroleum diesel engines, making the transfer from one to the other very easy. However, older petroleum diesel engines may experience a higher degradation of seals and gaskets which can easily be rectified
.
* Biodiesel usage dramatically reduces carbon monoxide emissions and carbon dioxide emissions.

* Biodiesel reduces sulfur emissions by 100% (because it does not contain sulfur), which will help contribute to the Kyoto protocol mandate of reducing sulfur emissions.

Proponents say it may replace the fossil fuels used today to power vehicles. But it still has a ways to go:

* Biodiesel just like regular diesel tends to gel at temperatures that are very low, but this can also be rectified with additives.

* Biodiesel is more expensive to produce by the Gas Companies right now than other fuels currently in use (although rising costs in fossil fuel production could outstrip this problem shortly).

* Biodiesel will require a lot of vegetable oil and animal fat to meet the demand and critics suggest that land use dedicated to filling the need will be astronomical and largely an inefficient use of land in supporting the demand.

* The EPA reports that American restaurants produce 300,000,000 gallons of waste cooking oil every year and although biodiesel can be produced from it, in the past it went to producing soaps etc, but the cost of collecting it has caused Biodieselers to celebrate because a lot of them are happy to collect it for free.

There is a lot of support in the potential of biodiesel eventually helping to replace fossil fuels. In order to generate an accurate calculation on whether it's a viable alternative or not there are a lot of things that need to be taken into consideration. Check out my new book 'The Secrets of Biodiesel' and really get a handle on this.

Biodiesel is not cost effective today because it is not produced in such a large-scale. If it were produced on a larger scale, it may have a greater effect on price. To use a different example, it costs more-per-car to produce only one or two cars than it costs to produce 10 cars, or a hundred cars, or thousand cars. (This is why Henry Ford is hailed as a genius of the production industry, because he reduced car prices by creating an assembly line). So once the scale of biodiesel is ramped up, the cost will be more effective.

The cost of biodiesel has become very affordable as a way to fuel cars and heat homes of our individual Biodieselers, however replacing the current processing plants that take oil and turn it into fuel may be so high that it is prohibitive and asking drivers to switch vehicles or swap engines may not be an alternative for everyone. So clearly, there will need to be a "phasing in" effect in order to increase biodiesel or other bio-fuels so greatly reducing the stranglehold of petroleum-based fuels.

Another thing to consider is the social cost. While many people do have the best intentions in mind to reduce emissions and waste and improve on their use of fossil fuels, people still make decisions based on their own personal impact: how much money and time will they save? There may be lots of people that they're concerned about the ecology, but there are so many more people concerned about whether they can afford to make the transition. Until biodiesel becomes the cheaper choice, the general public will not make the transition.

I hope you have enjoyed my rambling thoughts,

Perhaps we'll chat again soon,

Thanks for your time, Merv Rees.

www.whybiodiesel.com or check my blog at www.whybiodiesel.com/blog/

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Copyright 2005 Mervyn Rees All Rights Reserved.

http://www.whybiodiesel.com
About the Author

Mervyn Rees - The Author of 'The Secrets of Biodiesel' - http://www.whybiodiesel.com - Active young 71 year old with a life time of experience to share, from engineering in the motor & building industry, and then after an accident changed course and retrained as a health professional in rehabilitation and fitness.

The Rising Popularity of Biodiesel Fuel by Andrew Bicknell

With the rising price of gasoline these days the idea of turning to a more affordable alternative fuel source is becoming more appealing to many people. Biodiesel fuel is an alternative fuel that many people are making right in their own backyards from renewable sources that are readily available.

Another alternative fuel that is in the news these days is ethanol. Ethanol is being sold in the U.S. and in other countries as a viable alternative to regular gasoline but if you don't have access to an ethanol station or don't have a car that has been modified to run on it then another choice is needed. Biodiesel is the perfect fuel to fill that spot because of the ease with which it can be made.

If this is your first exposure to biodiesel then a little explanation of what it is in order. Biodiesel is a fuel that is mode from vegetable oil that can be used in cars and truck with diesel engines. Depending on the manufacturer you can purchase vehicles that are made specifically to run on biodiesel fuel. You can also get biodiesel conversion kits that allow you to use this alternative fuel in diesel engines that aren't built towards the biodiesel specification and in many cases these cars and trucks will run on biodiesel without any modifications.

This relatively new fuel source can be made from a number of renewable oils such as vegetable, canola or soy. In fact waste oil from restaurants and other establishments that use vegetable oil can also be used. It does take longer to process used oil but the results are the same. The vegetable oil is run through a processor that will turn it into biodiesel fuel. These processors can be purchased as kits which can cost several thousand dollars. But when you think about how much you pay at the pump each year it's easy to see that recouping the cost of making your own fuel will take only a few years.

There is a multitude of information on the internet today about biodiesel fuel. If producing it is something you are considering then spend some time researching not the processes involved but also the different processing kits available. Many companies will ship a biodiesel fuel processing kit right to your front door, but be sure of what's involved before you lay down your money.

About the Author

Do you want to know more about biodiesel fuel and how to make it? Click here and find out all about biodiesel.

Save Money with a Biodiesel Kit by Andrew Bicknell

With the rising gas prices of today many people have begun to look for an alternative way to put fuel in their cars. A biodiesel kit fits the bill for many people who have started making this oil saving fuel in their own backyards. And why not make your own fuel, the hit to wallets and bank accounts with high gasoline prices makes finding alternative fuel sources imperative these days, particularly with the price of gas and oil in the news on a daily basis.

A biodiesel kit is a great way to save a substantial amount of money on your fuel costs. The basic function of such a kit is to convert vegetable oil into biodiesel, a fuel source that can be used in vehicles that currently run on diesel fuel. It is important to note that not all car companies endorse the use of biodiesel fuel in their vehicles and will void the warranty if an engine is damaged by its use. Be sure to research this before buying a new vehicle with a diesel engine. For older diesel cars and truck there are engine conversion kits that will make the change to cleaner burning biodiesel much easier.

There is a minimal amount of supplies needed to use a biodiesel kit. You will need basic tap water, methanol and access to a good amount of vegetable oil, which can usually be obtained from restaurants and such. You can set the kit up just about anywhere, although most people do put them outside in a shed or under an overhang. You will be making a fuel oil so setting up in the house may not be a real good idea.

When it comes to pricing a kit the more features to be found the more expensive the kit. The most expensive models are built to prevent fumes and odors from escaping during the refining process. Having an odorless refining process may be important for those wishing to refine their fuel near their home. If you live on a farm or a large acreage this may not be as important as the kit can be located farther from the house. Of course if you can afford it go ahead and get the more expensive closed system just because they are very easy to use.

If for some reason you already have a large amount of cooking oil that you need to dispose of then a biodiesel kit would work perfectly. It does take more time to process used oil but the results are the same, a more environmentally friendly fuel that can be put into a diesel powered vehicle.

Considering that the price of gasoline is on an ever rising trend making biodiesel for personal use can be seen as a smart move. Having your own biodiesel kit producing a constant supply of a low cost environmentally friendly fuel right in your own backyard would remove the sting of high pump prices.

About the Author

Do you want to know more about biodiesel kits and the fuel they make? Click here and find out all about biodiesel.

Current Innovation: Battling bureaucracy by Jeff Morris

Current Innovation: Battling bureaucracy by Jeff Morris - 1.3.07 How do we support tomorrow's innovations from the confinement of bureaucracy?

It's a question with which governments throughout the Pacific Northwest have been plagued for ages. How does government, made of up well-established boxes and lines of authority, nurture innovations that often destroy the boxes and silo views those very agencies and ministries are built upon?

I think the answer is quite simple: We can not rely on the current systems we have in place. Innovations need to be supported by specific charters under the leadership of a single agency.

I applaud cities like Portland, which had the foresight of creating its Office of Sustainable Development, and leaders like Oregon's Gov. Ted Kulongoski for designating a point person in charge of sustainable development.

In most cases, enormous effort is spent to set up a forum for discussing new technologies with state or provincial governments. More often than not, several agencies share the authority to help implement new technology, but none have enough authority to actually adopt it. Often, separate agencies actually work in opposition because of their unwillingness to cede authority or allow their budgets to be threatened.

Several years ago, a law was passed which required all state agencies to look at fuel cells as a primary back-up source of power when replacing or acquiring new power systems. But in Washington, only one fuel cell has actually been acquired. Agency managers are only asked to find ways to keep every light bulb in a building lit during a power outage, and therefore fuel cells rarely receive a glance.

Do agencies really need this type of power consumption to function for few days? Can agencies plan to operate with fewer lights and thus give small yet cleaner generation a chance? We may never get answers to these questions if we allow the current system of fractured execution to fester.

With an agency forcing other branches of government to look at sustainability and life-cycle costs, clean energy innovation can be better supported. Just like an environmental ministry goes after polluters no matter where they are, we need a sustainable energy office to investigate ways to make cleaner, more efficient, self-generated power. Just like we refit our old buildings to be more energy efficient, governments must change their current ways of thinking.

We must start to evaluate the best technologies at tomorrow's true cost, including global warming and pollution, rather than simply looking for the lowest bid.

The other fault in current systems is that policies supporting cleaner, newer technologies don't come with pre-packaged special interest groups to support them. In 2002, Washington state passed one of the first biodiesel production policies in North America. But few signed up to testify for the package of bills. A few groups took credit afterwards, but it was the extraordinary effort of Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Mukilteo) that ensured the bills' passage.

Yet when gas and diesel prices spiked this past year and some of the larger environmental groups decided to enter the fray, you couldn't find a room big enough to hold a meeting on biofuels. With this additional attention, we set a new mandate in Washington which requires that 2 percent of all diesel sold in the state be biodiesel.

Unfortunately, the same political attention resulted in the shift of many key implementation questions to yet another agency with little energy expertise: the Department of Agriculture. In Washington sate, we have nine different agencies with a hand in developing sustainable energy. Of these agencies, not one is consistently identified as a leader in energy policy.

If every Northwest state and province has an office focused on renewable energy to set a few prime directives, all agencies could use those directives when developing agency energy use policies. These new bureaucratic efficiencies will result in agencies that make decisions based on actual cost rather than cheapest bids -- and help foster a less polluted and more productive region.

About the Author

As Director of the Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative (NWETC), headquartered at the Washington Technology Center, Jeff and his team work to accelerate growth of the energy technology industry in the region. The U.S. Department of Energy recently recognized his achievements there by naming him a "West Coast Power Player". In addition, Jeff is starting his term in the Washington State Legislature.

It's True, You Can Make Your Own Diesel Fuel, But You Have To Be Smart About It by Lee Wilson

Biodiesel is a technology that was introduced for the first time back in 1900, but is now really creating an interest for those of us interested in easing our dependency of foreign oil. The process of making biodiesel is really quite simple. All that needs to happen is having an organic matter converted into diesel. The organic matter can be something as common as vegetable oil or soybean oil. These can be used as the base organic matter that is converted into biodiesel.

Because of the simplicity of the biodiesel conversion, many people have started to make biodiesel on their own. This is especially true of farmers who can go through a lot of fuel very quickly. Many have found that they find a huge savings in fuel costs once they start to make biodiesel.

While it may sound exciting to make your own fuel, I want to caution you that while it is a simple process, it can also be a dangerous process. Therefore I am telling you that this article contains only information for those who are interested, for the sake of education, in how biodiesel can be made. If you try anything that is mentioned in this article, you do so at your own risk. If you are considering making biodiesel you need to be very careful when researching this procedure. You can hurt yourself and your vehicle if this is done incorrectly. Therefore, I highly recommend that you take a class in making biodiesel fuel. Of course you should also follow all safety precautions you learn about in class.

Be aware that there may be some local and state regulations about making your own biodiesel. These regulations are basically set up so that you have to pay tax on the fuel you make. After all if they lose the tax money at the pump, you can be sure they will find another way to get it from you.

As you can imagine, this is causing a lot of hard feelings with farmers. You see farmers feel they have a right to use what they have grown on their own farms to make their own biodiesel. And who can blame them? This is one of those issues that will be evolving over time and should be very interesting to watch.

The bottom line is that homemade biodiesel is possible, is much better for the environment and can save you a lot of money. But, do your homework before attempting anything like this and it is even better if you can go a take a class on homemade biodiesel fuel before setting out on your own.

About the Author

Go to Lee's site, http://biodieselfuelalternative.com/ for more information on biodiesel fuel.

Biodiesel - Wash n Dry Your Fuel the Easy Way by Mike Copinger

By now you know all to well that to get the best results and to avoid any possibility of reducing the efficiency of your fuel you need to wash your raw biodiesel.

Now this can be done any number of ways from a fancy mist washing system, to "hand washing" to using an aquarium airstone to achieve the desired result. All the while ever conscious of the dangers that your neo fuel could turn into soap at any second.

All of these processes however result in some water being left in your biodiesel fuel which again raises the spectre or reduced performance and possible long term corrosion issues inside your fuel delivery system.

As a result many gurus in the field of biodiesel production maintain that you should "dry" your fuel for a perfect end product - and I agree. However it is yet another step to perform and many people are tempted to miss this step altogether, many don't even wash their fuel let alone dry it!

Fortunately there is another way - a much, much easier way to get clean, dry fuel (dry-clean?) The magic ingredient you need is Magnasol.

Magnasol, is probably best described as an "adsorbent filter aid" and it ensures the quality of your biodiesel by removing any contaminants within methyl esters and that includes water. In fact Magnasol could prove to be the cure all for cleaning and clarifying your fuel to produce a consistently high quality, clean biodiesel fuel at home.

How it Works Magnasol increases "the oxidative stability of biodiesel" and you can use it either in conjunction with, or more importantly as a replacement for your water-wash treatment at the end of your biodiesel production process.

After the reaction with methoxide that causes the glycerin separation process, your raw biodsiesel contains contaminants that could certainly be detrimental to the quality of your fuel and must be removed before you use it - for best and problem free results. Normally you would do this by water-washing the biodiesel. However, with Magnesol, the water-wash step can be removed, and so can the "liquid separation" and "drying" of your biodiesel.

It can also replace other methods of removing color from biodiesel, such as bleaching if you bother to do such a thing.Magnesol has a high affinity for methanol and water, so it will leach every last bit of these from your fuel.

Purification with Magnesol can also increase the stability of biodiesel which is increasingly important, as home and industrial manufacturers move towards using or providing biodiesel fuel ever more widely.

How to Use Magnasol In a standard biodiesel production process, you mix Magnesol (supplied as a fine white powder) with your reacted but unwashed biodiesel in your reaction tank. Mix it for around 5 or 10 minutes after glycerin separation and after any methanol removal.

Magic Magnasol (magnesium silicate) has what is called a "strong affinity for polar compounds" which means that it naturally bonds to polar compounds like excess methanol, free glycerin, mono and di-glycerides, metal contaminants, free fatty acids and soap. These materials can then removed from the process through simple filtration filtration e.g. pump your finished fuel through a cloth or fuel filter.

N.B. Glycerin is itself a polar molecule, and as such is susceptible to the adsorptive abilities of Magnasol. That's why Magnesol is added to the process after the glycerin separation has taken place.

When using Magnesol, you are left with a potentially useful "filter cake" rather than potentially dirty waste to dispose of. This filter cake could potentially be used as a clean animal feed supplement, a form of biomass fuel, fertilizer or compost. For more details see the BECON study in the Resources section at www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com

About the Author

Mike Copinger is a leader in the field of alternative energy. Between speaking engagements he runs a number of initiatives including the Alternative Energy Newsletter available from www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com and the free site www.biodiesel-secrets-revealed.com

How Is Biodiesel Made? by Mark Allen

How Is Biodiesel Made? By Mark Allen

Biodiesel is a clean burning substitute for petroleum based diesel fuel. Biodiesel is made of vegetable oil. Most modern diesel burning engines can use Biodiesel with few or no modifications. Biodiesel is making inroads at the gas pump too where it can be found more and more as an option when it's time to fill up the tank. But, how is Biodiesel made?

To make, or manufacture, Biodiesel you must first start with raw materials. The raw materials needed in the production of Biodiesel are a small amount of Methanol and a ready supply of vegetable product. One of the most common vegetables used in the production of Biodiesel is corn, although depending on the geographic location of the manufacturing facility many other plants are used as well (rapeseed, soybeans, flaxseed, etc.). The first step is to use the raw vegetable product to make vegetable oil. Vegetable oil by itself will not be what you need to power a car, from here it has to be processed into Biodiesel.

The process for converting vegetable oil into Biodiesel is sometimes called ester interchange. To complete this process the vegetable oil has to be combined with a smaller amount of Methanol and then put in the presence of a small quantity of an alkaline catalyst (for example, .5% to 1% sodium hydroxide). Vegetable oil is made up of so-called triglycerides, which is a compound of the trivalent alcohol glycerin with three fatty acids. The goal of ester interchange is to separate, or detach the glycerin molecule from the three fatty acids and replace it with three methanol molecules. This process then yields roughly 90% Biodiesel and 10% of a glycerin byproduct. The glycerin byproduct can be used in a number of other chemical processes for different industries. There are also studies being done to see if the glycerin byproduct, since it is vegetable based, can be used as feed for animals. This makes the production of Biodiesel produce virtually no waste products at all.

The production of Biodiesel is done in a large manufacturing facility like those being built around the world to take advantage of this relatively new fuel source. These facilities are built much like their oil refinery cousins with the intent of putting out hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of gallons of fuel. Unlike the manufacturing process of standard mineral based fuel, Biodiesel can also be manufactured in smaller home or farm units, or kits. The process remains the same but on a much smaller scale. There is also the option of making Biodiesel at home from used vegetable oil gathered from restaurants and delis. To achieve this the oil first has to go through another process to clean it of any impurities.

One of the main benefits of Biodiesel is that it burns cleaner than standard mineral based fuel. An additional benefit is that it also pollutes less during the process of making Biodiesel than it does during the manufacture of standard mineral based fuel like diesel and gasoline. Cleaner to burn and cleaner to make, Biodiesel is truly a viable alternative energy source.

About the Author

Mark Allen is an avid supporter of the continued search for a viable alternative-fuel. More information at BiodieselPlans.info

Biodiesel, What Is It? by Mark Allen

Biodiesel, What Is It? By Mark Allen

In today's world, one can hardly escape the subject of fuel prices and fuel supply. For a number of different reasons people have turned from standard petroleum based fuel sources and looked for a reliable alternative-fuel. Biodiesel is one such fuel that experts and enthusiasts have embraced as not only their idea of a fuel of the future, but is also their choice for a fuel for today. But, what is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a fuel containing some of the same traits as conventional diesel fuel. Biodiesel is made from high quality vegetable oils through a manufacturing process that can be done on a large scale - such as a refinery, or on a small scale - such as a home Biodiesel kit. The primary use for Biodiesel right now is as a substitute for petroleum based diesel fuel.

In different parts of the world, different plants are used as the source for the vegetable oil that is made into Biodiesel. Theoretically, any vegetable grown can be broken down and turned into Biodiesel, but right now most Biodiesel producers use one primary crop as their source. In America, the primary crop grown for Biodiesel production is corn. Corn, being one of the more common crops grown in American, provides a readily available supply of vegetable matter for Biodiesel manufacturers. In much of Europe, rapeseed is used in the production of Biodiesel. And, in Southeast Asia the primary plant grown for the manufacture of Biodiesel is Soybeans. After going through the manufacturing process, there is little difference in the properties of Biodiesel made from one plant over another.

The process used to manufacture Biodiesel from pure vegetable oil is called ester interchange. In the process the vegetable oil is combined with a much smaller amount of Methanol. Methanol can be manufactured by the fermentation of starch or sugar and it can also be produced from natural gas. The vegetable oil and methanol are placed in a small quantity of an alkaline catalyst and it is in this process that the chemical makeup of the vegetable oil is altered. The result is a clean burning fuel with a viscosity (flow properties) approximating that of standard diesel fuel. During this process, approximately 90% of what is manufactured is Biodiesel fuel, while the remaining 10% is in the form of the glycerine that was broken down from the vegetable matter. This glycerine can also be used in other applications in the chemical industry, making the manufacture of Biodiesel practically waste-free.

The current uses for Biodiesel are mainly limited to that of being a cleaner burning replacement for petroleum based diesel fuel. Biodiesel can be both economically viable and highly efficient for most mobile applications. There will be some performance and usage differences between diesel and Biodiesel and they will vary from vehicle to vehicle as expected. It is possible for most modern diesel engines to burn standard Biodiesel. Currently, Biodiesel is also marketed as a Biodiese/Ethanol mix or a Biodiesel/Diesel mix.

Still a young industry by any measure, Biodiesel is on it's way to becoming one of the brightest lights in the search for a viable alternative-fuel.

About the Author

Mark Allen is an avid supporter of the search for a viable alternative-fuel. More information at www.BiodieselPlans.info

Alternative Car Show Coming Soon by Sarah McBride

Are you hot for an alternative car or vehicle? Are you looking for the right kind of ideas and information when it comes to such? Do you think you still lack the knowledge on these vehicles to actually buy one?

Well, your prayers are just about to be answered. This coming December 9th and 10th, a car show on alternative cars and transportation would be held in the city of Santa Monica. And yes, it would be the city's government who would be sponsoring and even hosting the AltCar Expo which would be open to the public. You can rush to the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center to take part of this.

What would one expect from this one of a kind car show? Well, sure, there would be less of the usual vehicles clad in Jeep parts, Mercedes Benz parts, and Chevrolet parts. But there would be a real good share of alternative vehicles and those cars that have a high mile per gallon rate. Technology of such vehicles would also be showcased and shared. Seminars and symposiums would also be held so that goers could actually be able to interact with the experts on this matter. These would also be free of charge so interested parties need not worry about expenses.

"The price of oil, national security, health concerns, and environmental damage are all issues that need to be addressed now. Making more fuel efficient decisions ultimately helps everyone," says Craig Perkins who is the environmental and public works director for the city. He would be sharing his expertise and knowledge at the AltCar Expo on the vehicles that clean air and fuel efficient. Of course, he would be dwelling on such type of vehicles that are also already available for anyone to purchase.

According to the organizers of AltCar Expo, there would actually be over a hundred alternative fuel vehicles and high MPG vehicles to be showcased. The range would include vehicles that have various sources of fuel and power - from hybrid to electric to compressed natural gases, to hydrogen to plug-ins to ethanol and even to biodiesel.
About the Author

As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield,Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast.

SEMA Show Flaunts What Auto Industry Got by Joe Thompson

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, the annually held premier automotive specialty products trade, flaunted the hottest and the most striking cars in the auto industry. This year's show started on October 31 and ended on the third day of November at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

SEMA show reflects the sense of environmental concern of the automakers as well as their craving for vehicle customization to make their lineup more appealing to car enthusiasts. One striking concept car was the EcoJet made through the efforts of General Motors in collaboration with Jay Leno. The car is powered by a 650-hp turbine engine that generates 585 pound-feet of torque. It runs on biodiesel, a clean-burning fuel from renewable resources.

"We live in an era where liking cars and the environment don't seem to mix but we wanted to show that not every environmentally friendly vehicle has to drive like a Prius," said Leno during the EcoJet's unveiling at the SEMA show.

SEMA also unleashed a new hybrid category for its vehicle design awards. In the standard awards the winners were the Ford Shelby GT500, Toyota Tundra and Jeep Wrangler. Chevrolet Silverado Classic Hybrid emerged as the winner in the new hybrid category. The brawny vehicle uses powerful Chevrolet Silverado pickup parts that includes the electric motor assisting its Vortec 5.3-liter V8 engine to create a striking performance.

"The Silverado did come out of the blue, in that a lot of other hybrids were getting a lot more press. Yet the Silverado has more accessories available for it than any other vehicle." So while green is good, customization is still king at SEMA," said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president. However, Silverado cannot drive on electric alone unlike Prius and Civic. Honda Civic auto parts and those of Toyota Prius are designed to function well even when only the electric is running.

Consequently, Shelby and Tundra proved its worth while parts for Jeep Wrangler displayed their groundbreaking potentials.

In said show, a prototype version of limited-edition Mugen Civic Si sedan was displayed. Further, the show will never be completed without unveiling auto surprises including the most expensive and powerful vehicles. In fact, the show displayed a car with a prize tag of $2 million. Said car has a set of diamond-encrusted rims.
About the Author

Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.

Diesel Engines and Generators. Innovative Genius by John Stafford

Diesel engines are the combined inventions of two specific inventors, Rudolph Diesel and Herbert Akroyd Stuart. The internal engine is strictly from Diesel and the injection system is derived from Stuart. Stuart is best known for his advances in solid injection. Solid injection is derived from compressing fuel to extremely high pressures by means of pumps. It is then forced under pressure through injectors into the combustion chamber. Diesel's original engine injected fuel by means of compressed air into the cylinder. The fuel was atomized and mixed with air and then injected. This was "air-blast" injection. The early models of diesel engines were extremely large and heavy due to the large compressors needed as part of its' fuel injection system. Naval diesels were so large that they needed separate engines just to compress the air required to power the diesels. During the earlier years, the use of diesel engines with automobiles was not feasible.

Today's diesel is a miracle of innovative genius. No longer is the engine serviced by a mechanical fuel pump but by ECM run fuel pumps, which service the individual injectors at the proper and accurate opening times. The distributor pump direct injection method was improved vastly by the Volkswagen Audi group in 1989. The genie in the bottle or the ECM (the electronic control module) made the injection timing, fuel measurement, exhaust recirculation and turbo boost precise and accurate. They provided the incentive for diesels to be marketed to the mass market. Consequently, Volkswagen began selling their Mark 3 Golf TDI very successfully. European automobile manufacturers build common rail direct injector diesel engines, a means where the distributor injection pump is deleted and a high-pressure reservoir stores the fuel at extremely high pressures. The computer-controlled injectors have a precision system actuated by solenoid or even piezo-electric actuators and are used to inject diesel fuel at the correct time. This high performance diesel engine is used primarily for racecars.

So why should someone buy a diesel? Diesel fuel is denser than gasoline by 15%. The diesel engine must be larger in order to put out the same power as a gasoline engine. The size of the diesel engine has with the assistance of turbo charging, precise timing and feed back allowed it to operate under pressures impossible with gasoline engines. This means a more efficient and powerful engine. Therefore, if you want a faster, more economical and environmentally safer automobile then choose a diesel.

If you are concerned about the diesel knock then a diesel rail injection system with a two-stage injection system can completely rid your vehicle of the dreaded diesel knock. In the department of emissions, diesel engines rate very environmentally friendly since they produce little to no carbon monoxide. The higher PM10 (or particulate matter greater than or equal to 10 microns) emission occurs when diesels are not equipped with diesel particulate filters. The other pollutant gases of sulfur and nitrogen oxides are eliminated by catalytic converter.

The diesel is renowned for the power and torque required for towing heavy loads. It is reliable and easier on engines to start than gasoline engines because there is less wear and tear due to the lower pressures. Last, a diesel offers many types of effective and inexpensive fuels such as the biodiesel fuels found in vegetable oils and used vegetable oils.

About the Author

John Stafford is the webmaster and a contributor for http://www.diesel-generator-central.com, http://www.car-accessory-central.com and http://www.diesel-performance-pros.com

Visit http://www.diesel-generator-central.com/articles/ to research your next diesel engine or diesel generator then purchase from one of our wide range. http://www.diesel-generator-central.com offers experienced and professional advice to assist you in your next diesel decison.
About the Author

John Stafford is the webmaster and a contributor for http://www.diesel-generator-central.com, http://www.car-accessory-central.com and http://www.diesel-performance-pros.com

Why We Need Alternative Fuels by Rahul Dhillon

Alternative Fuels

We urgently need to develop alternative fuel sources that reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The only other imperative that competes with this urgency is the emergency of global warming. A few alternative fuels are serious contenders for alleviating the fossil fuel crisis including ethanol, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and biodiesel. We are in dire need of other alternative fuel developments and discoveries.

Cellulosic Ethanol

Ethanol has been used as fuel in the United States since at least 1908. Touted as a potential aid to the fossil fuel dilemma, cellulosic ethanol is the only alternative energy source that could be produced in enough volume to make a dent in gas usage. Cellulosic ethanol, the biofuel that differs from corn-based ethanol in that it can be made from pretty much any organic matter, is simple to make and has as its source an inexhaustible resource - municipal waste. Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is a long-chain polymer forming the primary structural component of green plants. Cellulose ethanol exhibits a net energy content three times higher than corn ethanol and emits a low net level of greenhouse gases.

Cellulosic ethanol showed greenhouse gas emission reductions of about 80% compared to fossil fuels. Research is being funded in an effort to make us free from non-domestic fuel by more efficient synthesis of domestically produced biofuel. Resources of biomass that can be converted to cellulosic ethanol in many instances are negative cost feedstock. They are more expensive to dispose of than to process into fuel.

A bacterial culture digests organic matter and produces ethanol as a byproduct, at a fourth the retail cost of a gallon of gas. Entrepreneurs are using their venture capital to build processing plants that will become operational in the next 18 to 24 months. Cellulosic ethanol is on the radar screen of big business and can be a substantial help relieving our gasoline crisis.

The Cellulose Fermentation Process

In biomass, Glucose C6 sugar is bound to cellulose, and Xylose (C5) is locked in hemicellulose. Since normal yeast can't ferment Xylose, genetically engineered E. coli bacteria is used in an alternate reaction path to turn almost all the Xylose into ethanol. The cellulose in Fermentable Biomass is broken into Xylose sugar (gray bar). Then the Xylose is separated from the remaining cellulose (blue bar). The Xylose is fermented with E. coli (top yellow), and the cellulose it broken down into normal glucose (red) which is fermented the normal way (bottom yellow). Finally all the ethanol is distilled (the water and lignin byproducts removed). The lignin is burned in the the still's boilers. Lignin forms the woody cell walls of plants and the "cement" between them.

Natural Gas

Natural gas offers several advantages short term in that the product, its pipelines, storage, and dispensing stations are already in the infrastructure for mass transit worldwide. There are over 1,300 natural gas vehicle (NGV) fueling stations in the U.S. - over half are available for public use. Low emissions. With a cost approximately one third less than gasoline, natural gas vehicles most economically run fleet vehicles. NGVs are most practical for fleets because fleets generally operate a number of vehicles that are centrally maintained and fueled, and travel more miles daily than the average personal use vehicle.

Examples

* taxi cabs * transit buses * school buses * airport shuttles * over-the-road trucks * refuse haulers * delivery vehicles * forklifts

Propane

Another popular alternative fuel choice for vehicles is propane (LPG) with an infrastructure of pipelines, processing facilities, and storage already in service. Propane is produced as a by-product crude oil refining. With about 200,000 propane vehicles in the United States and about 9 million worldwide, stepping up consumption of this fuel over gasoline could limit emissions and global warming.

Biodiesel

Autos powered by recycled vegetable oil from restaurants and fast-food joints is an idea that is under some serious scrutiny by environmental groups. Although this alternative fuel may be cheap and clean, there simply isn't enough of it to make a big dent in our gas consumption.

The conversion to cooking oil is easy and inexpensive. It costs about $800 to convert a car using a diesel engine to run on vegetable oil. What is needed is an extra fuel tank which contains a heating element inside. The oil needs to be kept hot to burn. Also needed are fuel lines up to the engine, filters, valves, and toggle switches so the driver can choose between running on vegetable oil or on conventional diesel fuel.

On the downside are the facts that no infrastructure is currently in place to make the cooking oil fuel available commercially. One currently needs to make arrangements with local restaurants to obtain the oil, often given freely. One must also filter the cooking oil for solids left over from the frying process. With limited cooking oil resources available, there is little likelihood that commerce will be motivated to develop the necessary widespread infrastructure to make the fuel more readily available. Vegetable oil fuel for autos may gain at the grass roots level, and may eventually become more widespread, especially if fuel prices increase.
About the Author

Thank you for choosing Carseek.com as your one stop resource for Free Car Price Quotes and the most up to date auto information.

The Future of a Biodiesel Economy by Rose Lindy

Everybody wonders what the future holds. You may think of your personal future, business future, children's future, but do you ever wonder what the future economy will be like? Isn't it hard to imaging anything being very diffferent than it is today? Science fiction films like to show the future in a dark theme, usually full of adventure. With all the talk of global warming, the ozone layer and any other number of environmental concerns most of us have also wondered what the future holds for the earth's natural resources. Also, give the fluctuation of oil costs in the last few years, alternative sources of fuel are being taken more seriously than ever before. There are already hybrid cars that are very popular and people are very open to accepting forms of energy that have nothing to do with oil. Considering that alternative sources of fuel are being taken more seriously these days than any other point in our history, a biodiesel economy may very well be the basis for the infrastructure of the next century.

So what is a biodiesel economy? It is a less costly economy because the need for oil will not be a dominant factor. There will probably always be some need for oil, but a biodiesel economy would not be addicted to oil. Also, the continued develpment of alternative energy sources will move the world to a very different economic landscape than what we currently have. Imagine the United States producing all their own energy. Now go one step further and imagine every major country in the world creating their own enery supply. This will drastically change the world economic scene.

The possibility of a biodiesel economy is not as farfetched as it used to be. More and more companies are beginning to take up the task of effective biodiesel research and development. Also, there are more tax incentives in the works to stimulate investment into alternative sources of energy, it would not be out of the question to see the biodiesel industry continue to make many strides in growth towards a biodiesel economy. Hopefully, it will occur in the present and not the future.
About the Author

Go to www.biodieselfuelalternative.com, where you will easily find information on biodiesel fuel and biodiesel processing.

A Brief Look At Biodiesel Conversion by Rose Lindy

These days people are more concerned than ever about the the development of alternate sources of fuel to replace dependency on oil. Some countries such as Brazil and Thailand have used ethanol to fuel cars. Solar and electric power are also alternative systems that have been considered as well as the art of biodiesel conversion where organic matter may be converted into a diesel substitute in engines.

There are several reasons why people, companies and nations alike are looking to alternative fuel sources. Unrest in the Middle East has catapulted the need to reduce the world's dependency on oil. Biodiesel conversion is a viable option and a popular option because it does not require drilling in Alaska or off the coast of Florida. It is more readily acceptable and a cleaner option.T

The public, in general, understands the need for oil drilling and refining but they also understand very well of environmental risks of spillage and other disasters. Oil drilling is a speculative venture to say the least meaning you can look all you want and drill all you want, but you may not find the oil that you are looking for.

A lot of research has gone into biodiesel conversion with very positive results. These positive results will probably lead to more companies jumping on the biodiesel bandwagon. This will lead to more investments into this type of energy source which is a good thing because the faster are less dependent on oil, the better.

As biodiesel conversion becomes more popular you will not have to have money invested in a company that performs biodiesel conversion to make a buck. You will earn money by saving money if biodiesel fuel provides a cheaper alternative to gasoline. Time will tell if this turns out to the wave of the future.
About the Author

Go to www.biodieselfuelalternative.com, where you will easily find information on biodiesel fuel and biodiesel processing.

Biodiesel as Fuel; A Step in the Right Direction by Rose Lindy

Biodiesel as fuel, Americans are well aware that they need to do something about the addiction to oil. As long as most of the oil continues to come from the Middle East, there is no doubt that an alternative source of energy is most needed. More and more people are getting enthused about alternative fuels becaue they want to see their money kept in America and being poured out to another country, not to mention there is a huge dislike at being held captive at the pump to the supplying country. They want to see their money kept in America and their reliance on other to be lowered and since biodiesel as fuel can be used in any diesel engine either as a mixed fuel or completely by itself it is looking better all the time.

It is made from what is called virgin oil feedstock. This means never used rapeseed or soybean oil, or even the uncommon palm, oil, hemp or mustard. Waste vegetable oils are also used. These come mainly from restaurant wastes and are also known as WVO. As well animal fats can be used. American restaurants make three hundred million gallons of waste vegetable oil a year. Meanwhile the people of the United States use nearly two hundred thirty billion gallons of fuel to run their cars and heat their homes. So, though that means that waste vegetable oil can only make a small amount of biodiesel in comparison to the national need, it is still worth using biodiesel as fuel in any way possible.

Biodiesel as fuel for the use in vehicles is very much becoming common especially amongst farmers who are more likely to make it for their own use. Some environmental groups object to the use of biodiesel as fuel because they claim that it would mean too much land would be used by farmers to grow these vegetable oil crops and this would over use the fields.

There are gas stations across the country where is can be found. This too is becoming more common. Alternative fuels are the way of the future. They reduce the countries reliance on others, it makes America stronger as the country produces more of its own fuel and that makes its people proud.
About the Author

Go to www.biodieselfuelalternative.com, where you will easily find information on biodiesel fuel and biodiesel processing.

Making Biodiesel: Why is it Your Best Option? by Markella M.

You have a lot of options if you want to use alternative bio-fuels to run a diesel engine. You can use only vegetable oils by making some modifications to your diesel engine, or you can use a mix of vegetable oils and other original diesel fuels like petroleum or kerosene. But the best by far option, is to convert fresh or used vegetable oils or even animal fat to biodiesel. This is your best, clean, healthy and environment-friendly option. Let's cover some of the basics of making biodiesel.

First of all, you don't have to be involved in the process of making biodiesel. You can just buy biodiesel. You can use it in any diesel engine without any modifications or conversions to the fuel system. There are thousand of biodiesel filling stations in Europe and the United States and their number increases every year. Some countries even mix their original diesel fuels with a small percentage of biodiesel.

If you can't find any of this alternative bio-fuel then it's time to start making your own biodiesel. the feeling of freedom you'll get making your own fuel is just great!

There are a lot of ways and recipes to make your own biodiesel. Some people claim that there are great dangers and risks involved in the process of making biodiesel but the fact is that nobody has yet hurt themselves or anyone else. It's a safe process, if you're careful and sensible. Surely you deal with chemicals but these are just common household chemicals sold in every supermarket.

So, if you want to start making biodiesel here are some tips: - Start with fresh quality vegetable oil. Don't use used wasted vegetable oil, yet! - Start by performing lots of tests with small portions of each ingredient. Don't go for making a tone of Biodiesel, yet! - Make small steps, learn everything you can about the ingredients you use, about biodiesel in general, about alternative sources of energy and bio-fuels. Learn one step at a time.

Just do it! Thousands of people are already making their own homebrewed biodiesel. If they can do it, you can too.
About the Author

It's a shame you buy so much expensive energy from you local electric company or the gigantic oil companies when you can learn how to make your own biodiesel easily and effectively in your own backyard. Take a look at this free biodiesel ebook on how to make biodiesel. The information on the book is straight from the university of Idaho.

How To Make Biodiesel: The Three choices of using biofuel by Markella M.

Biodiesel becomes more and more popular every year. It's popularity probably derives from the fact that biodiesel is so cheap and relatively easy to be made. You can make it in your own backyard or kitchen. It is far better than the original petro-diesel, it's cleaner and better for the environment and your health. Let's talk about the three options you have when running a diesel engine on biofuel.

All three options can be used with vegetable oils, animal fat or both (it doesn't matter if you use fresh or used oils):

- You can use the oil as it is - You can mix the oil with another chemical supplement like kerosene, or gasoline or petroleum etc. - You can convert the oil to biodiesel

Using the oil as it is can be clean and effective. Not to mention cheap also. But you have to make modifications to the diesel engine so that it is optimized for vegetable oil. You can find pre-modified diesel engines where you can use petro diesel, biodiesel and pure vegetable oil in any combination. There are engines with separate fuel tanks and a switch, you fill one tank with vegetable oil and the other tank with original petroleum diesel. Then you just turn on the engine using the tank with the original petroleum diesel and after a while you switch to the tank with the vegetable oil.

Mixing the oil with other supplements is your second option. Because vegetable oil is thick you mix it with a different type of fuel to make it thinner so that it flows easily into the combustion chamber of your diesel engine. Remember that using petroleum or kerosene to mix the vegetable oil, is not a clean option though. You can make various mixes (for example 20% vegetable oil and 80% of another diesel fuel). Some claim that if you use such a mix you have to preheat the engine, others just start the engine and go without preheating.

Your final option (and by far the best, in my opinion) is to convert the vegetable oil into biodiesel. Because biodiesel works in any diesel engine without the need to make any conversion or modifications to the fuel system or the engine itself. Just fill and go. Biodiesel is a much safer, clean, ready to use fuel that's well tested. This option unlike the other two is backed by thousands of short-term and long-term research and tests by scientists around the world.
About the Author

It's a shame you buy so much expensive energy from you local electric company or the gigantic oil companies when you can learn how to make your own biodiesel easily and effectively in your own backyard. Take a look at this free biodiesel ebook on how to make biodiesel. The information on the book is straight from the university of Idaho.

VW Introduces Powertrain Roadmap For An Oil Free Epoch by Joe Thompson

Volkswagen, world's fourth largest car manufacturer after GM, Toyota and Ford has earlier published its powertrain roadmap which is intended to create a petroleum-free future.

Fossil fuels need to be used as sparingly as possible. Hence, in an effort to clean air and regulate the use of fossil fuels, VW releases a roadmap that advances auto parts Volkswagen. Automaker's direct injection systems (TSI), turbo-diesels (TDI), and dual clutch gearboxes (DSG) are some of the auto parts technologies that VW is concentrating on. These modern internal combustion technologies will be mated to electric motors in new hybrid powertrains.

The diesels are also being enhanced with the BlueTec emissions control technology from Mercedes. Subsequently, the automaker will be replacing fossil fuels with biofuels like cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. This is done to neutralize fuels carbon and avoid generating carbon dioxide from the combustion.

In addition, VW's long term goal is work on high-temperature fuel-cells (HTFC). This is because the automaker believes that the low-temperature being used these days have no bright future in the auto industry so it is aiming for something different yet better. According to Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, director of Volkswagen Corporate Research, "The high-temperature fuel cell will make the total system in the car lighter, more compact, durable and economical." They expect to start testing their new fuel cell design in vehicles in 2009, but don't foresee production before 2020.

The roadmap to an epoch free of oil is a strategy of VW that integrates highly innovative technologies to most excellent types of powertrains these days like the TDI, TSI and DSG. Clean TDI engines are special component of BLUETEC. These innovative technologies from the automaker can be had through pure electrical traction.

Clean TDI engines are set to comply with the strictest emissions laws around the globe. CCS is designed to serve as a key technology for a society which is free from petroleum. On the one hand, HTFC could serve as a breakthrough for hydrogen-powered vehicles. The prototypes of HTFC will be open for trials in 2009. In addition, the first production versions are expected to arrive before 2020.

VW will continue with its study about creating more powerful powertrains that won't make environment suffer. The mentioned viable engine types will soon invade the roads.
About the Author

Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.

Biodiesel And Its Producing Alternatives by Daniel Roshard

In a world where people rely heavily on diesel-powered engines to perform many functions for both agriculture and other known industries, it no longer comes as a surprise if there is a limited supply of derivatives of diesel fuels with traces of petroleum.

Besides the (over)exhaustion of reserves of petroleum fuels, improbability in petroleum sources and supply because of certain economic and political reasons inspired many to look for alternative resources for petroleum-based fuel sources like diesel.

You've heard of vegetable oil, animal fat, and recycled cooking oil being used as fuel nowadays. These are what you call Biodiesel.

From the word itself, biodiesel is an alternative to diesel fuel made from renewable or organic sources such as the ones already mentioned above. Biodiesel is produced by means of a reaction between an animal fat or vegetable oil and ethanol or methanol with a certain catalyst. Biodiesel appears as and used as either in its pure form or can be mixed with diesel to be utilized by diesel engines - a petroleum-based biodiesel. Both have yields of glycerin and biodiesel, which are chemically known as asters of methanol and ethanol.

The following presents the major advantages of using biodiesel:

1. It is non-hazardous and biodegradable. 2. It can readily be used in modern types of diesel engines. 3. It is a much more efficient as compared to fuel cells. 4. Thus, it can eliminate the huge allocation of reconstructing major fuel distribution factories and companies.

On the note of producing biodiesel extracts on a macro scale basis, two steps are usually considered:

1. Growing of alternative feed stocks.

Oilseed crops (and animal lipids) are well known sources of biodiesel because of their oil content.

Interestingly, recent programs have been funded to research on the feasibility of using algal species as feedstocks for biodiesel extracts. In fact, there are noted species of algae from which you can extract larger amounts of oil. The same species also grow at very fast rates so production would definitely be efficient. Moreover, most of these species use less water for cultivation, unlike oilseed crops.

Another advantage of using algae as a source of biodiesel is that the species also grow best in salty water, so farms could be built near the ocean without desalinating seawater.

With recent development regarding algae research, that concern is completely obliterated since it was noted that algae could survive in either a hot desert or within areas near waste streams.

Processing the feedstock into biodiesel. This step would be best accomplished by present oil refineries around the world, which are being converted to biodiesel refineries and by new companies building state-of-the-art plants.

Environmentally speaking, the use of biodiesel is basically not alarming. However, further researches regarding on biodiesel producing alternatives should be ventured upon to facilitate a more feasible large-scale biodiesel production.
About the Author

Alternative fuel is what that the market needs, consumers environmentally activists are searching for healthy and clean solution for energy. BioDiesel Fuel is a popular fuel solution, more Biodiesel facts http://biodiesel.zupatips.com

Biodiesel And Its Producing Alternatives by Daniel Roshard

In a world where people rely heavily on diesel-powered engines to perform many functions for both agriculture and other known industries, it no longer comes as a surprise if there is a limited supply of derivatives of diesel fuels with traces of petroleum.

Besides the (over)exhaustion of reserves of petroleum fuels, improbability in petroleum sources and supply because of certain economic and political reasons inspired many to look for alternative resources for petroleum-based fuel sources like diesel.

You've heard of vegetable oil, animal fat, and recycled cooking oil being used as fuel nowadays. These are what you call Biodiesel.

From the word itself, biodiesel is an alternative to diesel fuel made from renewable or organic sources such as the ones already mentioned above. Biodiesel is produced by means of a reaction between an animal fat or vegetable oil and ethanol or methanol with a certain catalyst. Biodiesel appears as and used as either in its pure form or can be mixed with diesel to be utilized by diesel engines - a petroleum-based biodiesel. Both have yields of glycerin and biodiesel, which are chemically known as asters of methanol and ethanol.

The following presents the major advantages of using biodiesel:

1. It is non-hazardous and biodegradable. 2. It can readily be used in modern types of diesel engines. 3. It is a much more efficient as compared to fuel cells. 4. Thus, it can eliminate the huge allocation of reconstructing major fuel distribution factories and companies.

On the note of producing biodiesel extracts on a macro scale basis, two steps are usually considered:

1. Growing of alternative feed stocks.

Oilseed crops (and animal lipids) are well known sources of biodiesel because of their oil content.

Interestingly, recent programs have been funded to research on the feasibility of using algal species as feedstocks for biodiesel extracts. In fact, there are noted species of algae from which you can extract larger amounts of oil. The same species also grow at very fast rates so production would definitely be efficient. Moreover, most of these species use less water for cultivation, unlike oilseed crops.

Another advantage of using algae as a source of biodiesel is that the species also grow best in salty water, so farms could be built near the ocean without desalinating seawater.

With recent development regarding algae research, that concern is completely obliterated since it was noted that algae could survive in either a hot desert or within areas near waste streams.

Processing the feedstock into biodiesel. This step would be best accomplished by present oil refineries around the world, which are being converted to biodiesel refineries and by new companies building state-of-the-art plants.

Environmentally speaking, the use of biodiesel is basically not alarming. However, further researches regarding on biodiesel producing alternatives should be ventured upon to facilitate a more feasible large-scale biodiesel production.
About the Author

Alternative fuel is what that the market needs, consumers environmentally activists are searching for healthy and clean solution for energy. BioDiesel Fuel is a popular fuel solution, more Biodiesel facts http://biodiesel.zupatips.com

How To Make Biodiesel To Save The Environment And Your Wallet by IPRWire Staff Writer

It is a rare night that the evening news is not telling viewers about a new horrible effect that pollution is having on people, animals, and the environment. From cancer to acid rain and famine to smog, the culprit to blame is fossil fuels. Would it not be great if there was a viable, clean alternative fuel? There is. By learning how to make biodiesel fuel, people can provide themselves with all the energy they require and not harm the environment or their health.

Yet it is not just the environment that fossil fuels are harming. Year after year the fuel costs are on the rise, and each time they increase by a steeper percentage. These increases have hit merchants hard, and consumers even harder. Airlines have had to add fuel surcharges, shipping companies have increased their rates, and even taxis have felt the pinch. Of course, as shipping rates increase the price of goods also goes up. This means that consumers' dollars don't go as far and they are unable to purchase as many products. It is clear that this is bad news for the economy.

Of course, learning how to make biodiesel can solve this problem as well. By switching just one car to biodiesel fuel, the driver can save $30 per fill up. Considering that the average household owns two cars, and that each car is filled at least three times per month, this can lead to outstanding savings. In addition, heating a home with biodiesel rather than oil saves $75 per 500 liters. Consider how many more Christmas presents could be purchased next winter. Finally, using a diesel generator for peak electricity can save the average household $500 per year, which could be used for better food, nicer clothing, or even a much needed vacation.

When we consider the amount of money that could be saved, it is amazing that anyone would not want to discover how to make biodiesel. Instead of that money going straight to the coffer of an oil company, it would be dispersed throughout the global economy. The money would circulate and encourage growth, creating all the benefits of a healthy economy such as improved social services, increased productivity, and advancements in technology.

The production of biodiesel is not as complicated as it may sound. This technology has been used on farms around the world for many generations, but is only now gaining popularity in the mainstream. With the right information, this process can be easily established and anyone can start reaping the financial benefits of producing their own fuel. Using simple tools, easy to find ingredients, and uncomplicated techniques, learning how to make biodiesel is a lesson anyone can master.

A good place to get all the information you need is at http://www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com. Ultimate Biodiesel Guide is currently providing a comprehensive manual and over 200 pages of bonus material at a discounted price. While visiting the site, you can also subscribe to the informative newsletter, "Alternative Energy," that provides ongoing updates on the world of alternative fuels.
About the Author

Excitement Limited (www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com) is a company that seeks to empower consumers through knowledge and simple, well-written publications about how to make biodiesel.

Making Biodiesel To Solve The Fossil Fuel Problem by IPRWire Staff Writer

Have you ever considered making biodiesel? Well now is the time to start considering it. Anyone who reads the papers knows that fossil fuels are hurting our environment. Increased emissions of greenhouse gases are polluting the atmosphere and creating the effect of global warming. The effects are already seen in rising temperatures, poor air quality, acid rain, and failing health.

An additional dilemma with fossil fuels is that the resources are becoming fast depleted. Although technically renewable, nature fills fossil fuel reserves at a very slow rate, and companies tap them very quickly. With the combined effect of fossil fuels being required, they are also bad for the environment and soon to be gone as the world is finding itself in an awful dilemma. Yet this dilemma may be solvable by making biodiesel fuel as an affordable and clean alternative.

In the past, we have attempted to solve the fossil fuel problem using a combination of two methods. The first method has been to encourage people to use less fuel through education. This is ineffective and unnecessary. Although some people may be excessive in their fuel consumption, our society's dependence upon technology has created a system in which that consumption is necessary.

A second solution has been to increase the cost. Although rising prices are a side effect of increased demand and decreased supply, they also serve to limit the amount of fuel people can afford to consume. Unfortunately, this means the wealthy can still use just as much, while everyone else cannot. If everyone was making biodiesel, there would be no limit, allowing people to drive their vehicles to work and heat their homes in the winter easily.

It is bad enough that fossil fuels and the oil companies that peddle them should be polluting the water, air, and land. Now that those resources are almost gone, should society stand by paying exorbitant prices, waging wars to secure more resources, and denying people much needed comforts? Instead of limiting pollution and saving fossil fuel reserves at the expense of ethics and quality of life, people can have it all by making biodiesel fuel.

Although it may sound complicated, the production of this alternative fuel source is actually quite simple. All it takes is a desire to make the change, a little dedication, and the right information. Unfortunately, as with every new and alternative technology, there is plenty of false information and companies wanting to exploit consumers.

Anyone interested in saving themselves money while saving the environment should seek online information that is fact based and backed by a reputable website. When conducting your own research, start with http://www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com. This site not only offers a comprehensive manual, but also a complete site with additional resources, newsletter subscription, and a lot of free bonuses. In addition, the brilliant minds behind the site are always available to answer any questions or concerns about biodiesel fuel. They can be reached directly using the site's interactive contact page.
About the Author

Excitement Limited (www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com) is a London-based company that seeks to empower consumers through knowledge and simple, well-written publications about making biodiesel.

Biodiesel Making Course Review - Must Read Now!! by Charles Hamel

Gas prices continue to rise during the holiday shopping season. The national average as of December 1st 2006 is $2.27 regular, $2.28 diesel. With the popularity of Hybrid cars and the approaching re-interest in Electric cars the public is clearly fed up with not only the prices of fuel but also the dependency on foreign countries for our energy sources. Depending on foreign countries for our fuel source is not only ridiculous but unnecessary.

The latest quarterly pricing survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and eurocarprice.com finds that diesels accounted for 49% (7,415,198 units) of the total European car market at the end of 2005. That represents a 7% increase in annual sales volume over the prior period. Diesel is now set to overtake gasoline as the primary fuel for new passenger vehicles in Europe during 2006 as buyers look for more fuel-efficient options. After years of fighting among automakers, oil companies and regulators, technology and the demand for better fuel economy have progressed enough to make diesels more attractive. Every major automaker is committed to build more diesel-powered models or is studying their feasibility for the United States. A few hinted at future plans during the Detroit auto show.

Now let me give you a little information about the diesel engine. Rudolf Diesel developed the idea for the diesel engine and obtained the German patent for it in 1892. His goal was to create an engine with high efficiency. Gasoline engines had been invented in 1876 and, especially at that time, were not very efficient. Rudolf Diesel intended the diesel engine to use a variety of fuels including coal dust and peanut oil. He demonstrated it at the 1900 Exposition Universelle (Worlds Fair) using peanut oil. Vegetable oils were used in diesel engines until the 1920's when an alteration was made to the engine, enabling it to use a residue of petroleum - what is now known as diesel #2. Despite the fact that men such as Henry Ford, Rudolph Diesel, and subsequent manufacturers of diesel engines saw the future of renewable resource fuels, a political and economic struggle doomed the industry. Manufacturing industrialists made modifications to the diesel engines so they could take advantage of the extremely low prices of the residual, low-grade fuel now offered by the petroleum industry. The petroleum companies wanted control of the fuel supplies in the United States and, despite the benefits of biomass fuel verses the fossil fuels, they moved ahead to eliminate all competition in the 1940's.

Now in 2006 as the gas prices climbed to over $3.00 a gallon in April, China going through the biggest Industrial Boom of it's history the demand for fossil fuels have skyrocketed. We are being told there is an impending shortage, thus the move to search for alternative fuels. In the news there is talk of ethanol, hydrogen and bio-fuels, and bio-fuels is what brings me to this article. For those of you who own diesel vehicles did you know that it is possible to make biodiesel for as little as 50-60 cents per gallon. And the big kicker, it is a very easy process and can be done in your garage with easily obtainable ingredients.

I was fortunate to obtain a copy of Jay Talton's "Biodiesel Making Course". I was fully impressed with the amount of information it contains, and the way Jay guides newbies step by step in the methods of obtaining the ingredients, and then holding you by the hand and walking you through the process of making your very own biodiesel. Anyone can do this with easily obtained household items, and ingredients that can be found at your local auto parts and grocery store.

The "Biodiesel Making Course" goes in depth for beginners on the history of bio-fuels, handling and safety instructions, and the step by step of making and storing biodiesel. I was very impressed also with the amount of extras that you get free with the course, including a video of Jay explaining the different resources on the subject of biodiesel and biodiesel making supplies, an audio course entitled the "Ultimate Fuel Saving" course, "Using Unmodified Vegetable Oils as a Diesel Extender" and "The Art of Making Soap and Candles" out of a glycerin which is a by product of biodiesel.

Jay Talton's "Biodiesel Making Course" is a must read for anyone who owns or is thinking of buying a diesel vehicle. I run Biodiesel in my 2004 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and I have never seen a difference in performance. Don't let the automakers tell you that it won't work in your diesel engine, because the truth is most of them don't know anything about it. Take it from someone with experience, it works well and is more lubricating and cleansing than regular diesel. If you are remotely interested in saving $1.75 to $1.85 per gallon then don't miss this course. Click Here!
About the Author

Charles Hamel lives near Houston, Texas with his wife and two children. He makes his living freelance writing and blogging. His hobby's include cooking and music. He is a vegetarian, environmentalist, and an entrepreneur. He has always been a non-follower, always marching to the beat of his own drum, intuitive, easy going, technology geek.

LPG: an assessment of alternative fuels by Daniel Muir

Availability of alternative fuels by number of stations (www.energysavingstrust.co.uk):

LPG- 1228 Biodiesel-138 Natural gas- 31 Electricity-12 Bioethanol-10 Hydrogen-0

LPG is by far the most available alternative fuel. This enables more customers to be targeted and more customers are also more able to reach the fuel stations making it a more attractive option for customers. LPG is best suited to 'thirsty' fuel consuming cars or cars which have a high annual mileage. LPG cars bring many benefits i.e. less toxic emissions, cost savings per mile and congestion zone discounts.

Another option is biodiesel, which is biodegradable and better for the environment. It doesn't really affect vehicles in a bad way and could make the engine run more smoothly. It is about the same price as diesel and generally believed to be better for the environment.

Natural gas is mainly used in trucks and buses etc, and includes benefits including being much quieter than diesel cars, less toxic emissions and a congestion zone discount. Drawbacks include low availability and large storage is needed.

Electricity is thought of as the ideal sustainable transport solution but in order to be 'zero emission' must be produced using a renewable energy source. Performance is similar or improved but barriers include high cost, lack of investment and large storage tanks are needed.

Bioethanol is again much better for the environment but running costs are similar to petrol and there is very limited availability.

Lastly, hydrogen is almost pollution-free but is still at an early stage in development and can cost up to 20 times more than petrol. There is currently no availability but there is potential for growth.

Undoubtedly, at the moment, LPG appears to be the best option due to its availability and benefits and will be looking to become even more widely known and used in the future.
About the Author

This Article was written by Daniel Muir for Fuelture Ltd. Fuelture Ltd is a UK based alternative fuel company with a national LPG conversion service. Fuelture Ltd aspires to build a unique network of state-of-the-art LPG Stations and to launch a unique
The answer is Anaerobic Digestion for all the organic waste feedstocks suitable for it.

The process of anaerobic digestion (composting without air (oxygen)) uses organic waste materials to produce methane gas. The methane gas produced is a sustainable fuel for direct burning for power generation.

Doing this is carbon positive, it uses only renewable resources, it replaces fossil fuel use. It will reduce climate change.

Put this all together and you have real sustainability. A way of living without climate change, and without jeopardising the lives of later generations from global warming.
About the Author

To buy sustainable (peat free) compost visit the compost for sale web site and also see this anaerobic digestion web site for more information about AD.

Biodiesel v Ethanol Which is the Best Alternative Fuel by Mike Copinger

Everywhere I read, I read that ethanol is the next fuel to save us from a fossil fuel dependant, over heated, polluted future.

This emphasis seems to be the case particularly in the USA. That's understandable when you consider that the USA is the one great industrial nation that until recently never really embraced diesel engines like Europe. So you can understand their infatuation with ethanol - but that does not make it the right or the only choice.

In September Renault demonstrated its new hydrogen fuel cell powered 207 cabriolet, 28 bhp electric motor, 81 mph and an operating range of 218 miles, producing nothing but water as its sole emission. This month it was BMW with their new hydrogen power 7 series. They already have 3 fuel stations up and running in Germany with more planed. In October another manufacturer announced their hybrid system which converts braking energy not into electricity, but into compressed gas which is then used to help acceleration.

So clearly there are other options - however all of this is rather misses the point. None of these technologies help the power generation industry, nor do they meet the needs of the merchant navy, road hauliers or railway companies, all of whom, at least outside the USA, run on diesel.

Ethanol is a fuel which is complicated to make and thus easy to regulate, it continues to be cost effective only because of the massive government subsidies that it receives, it singularly fails to encourage the use of more fuel efficient diesel engines which simply delays the inevitable.

Which brings us neatly to the next point. The majority of ethanol in the USA is produced from corn - a food crop, a crop which requires good soil if it is to be grown in quantity. Do we face a future where we choose between fuel and food?

As all owners of a betmax video machine can testify, it is not always the best product that wins through. In the 80's Sony's betmax technology finally lost out to VHS, not because VHS was better but because it was better supported. With luminaries such as Bill Gates investing upwards of $84 million in ethanol production and distribution it is almost bound to be a success, if not an exclusive one.

In the US led fossil fuel replacement debate ethanol is clearly gaining ground steadily. However the world at large needs a diesel replacement, and the USA will sooner or later have to grasp the concept of fuel economy.

The only contender in this space is biodiesel, a clean fuel that can been made from crops like Jatropha, grown on the most marginal ground not suitable for food crops, and easily manufactured in plants small enough to fit into most peoples back yards.

What is certain is that whichever way this debate goes there is sure to be a rise in demand for a good, dependable supply of hardy, high yield crops whether for food or fuel production. Undoubtedly good news for Monsanto with their GM seeds.
About the Author

Mike Copinger is an alternative energy enthusiast. Between speaking engagements he runs a number of initiatives including www.ultimate-biodiesel-guide.com and www.biodiesel-secrets-revealed.com

Composting To Reduce Landfill Sites, And The Path To Biofuel Sustainability by Steve Evans

Throughout Europe all nations are committed to the processing of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to divert as much of our organic waste as possible away from landfill. This is a high priority for the United Kingdom if we are to reach Government recycling targets which are designed to ensure we comply with required landfill diversion rates as set by the EU Landfill Directive.

What is the easiest way to divert organic waste away from landfill, and close a lot of landfills for good?

The answer to this is composting. Composting is the natural way to bring left-over organic material back into the nutrient cycle. It also replaces chemical fertilisers and improves the quality of the soil, reducing crop pests, and retaining more moisture in the soil which then means that less watering is needed.

So composting is a good way to divert waste from landfill, but is there real demand for the huge quantities that could be made from the very large proportion of our municipal solid waste which is organic?

No, there are good reasons for concluding that there will never be a large enough demand for it from farmers and gardeners, because there is a huge amount of organic waste in our rubbish from potato peelings to newspapers, cardboard, and even our old non-synthetic clothes.

Composting can also be the first stage toward more sophisticated waste processing technologies such as Anaerobic Digestion, and take us toward a much more sustainable carbon economy which many see as the intermediate step civilisation needs to go through before entering the age of the hydrogen economy.

The vision of a carbon economy leads us toward a need to increase methane production. This is because there will be a demand to produce a lot of methane which can then be processed further into biofuel such as biomethanol and biodiesel - away from dependency on oil as our fuel source - and toward a marvelous new freedom from fossil fuels.

However, just as in most scientific and commercial advances, they work best through evolution rather than revolution, and so it will be with composting. Many nations including the UK, are now composting very successfully, but we appreciate that composting alone will not bring us to the point where we become sustainable.

We realise that we need sustainable renewable fuels very urgently to stop using fossil fuels and reduce the rate of climate change. By building on our success with household green waste and by beginning to compost commercial waste, and food wastes too, we are developing a culture which begins to accept organic waste processing, and not landfilling as the norm. Many successful new businesses have been created to process compost in the UK, and those businesses will naturally seek to develop and diversify.

Composting requires energy, it is a net carbon emitter and it is still not very sustainable for Municipal Solid Wastes. It is not the best use of waste organic matter which can contain a lot of contaminating materials.

So, how can we adapt composting to be a net carbon emissions reducer, or "Carbon Negative" and allow these new business to expand their hard won skills in biowaste processing?

The answer is Anaerobic Digestion for all the organic waste feedstocks suitable for it.

The process of anaerobic digestion (composting without air (oxygen)) uses organic waste materials to produce methane gas. The methane gas produced is a sustainable fuel for direct burning for power generation.

Doing this is carbon positive, it uses only renewable resources, it replaces fossil fuel use. It will reduce climate change.

Put this all together and you have real sustainability. A way of living without climate change, and without jeopardising the lives of later generations from global warming.

To find out more about more about where you can buy sustainable (peat free) compost visit the compost for sale web site and for anaerobic digestion information visit anaerobic digestion
About the Author

Steve Evans is a waste management professional with wide interests in sustainable living.