As the popularity of canola rises, in part due to its role as a feedstock for biodiesel, extension representatives from Kansas State University offer some tips to encourage growing the golden crop during winter rotations. Mike Stamm, a canola breeder and associate agronomist at Kansas State University, said about 80 percent of the canola oil consumed in the United States …
Mexico Looks to Build Biodiesel Plant
Scientists in Mexico want to build a biodiesel plant that would provide fuel for Mexico City’s public transit. This story in the Latin American Herald Tribune says the the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) plan is to use waste cooking oil from restaurants and hotels and could supply more than 500 gallons a day. A School of Engineering lab …
Hawaiian Utilities Seek Biodiesel as Clean Fuel
Hawaii is known for its lush, green jungles. Now, the islands would like to go green environmentally. Hawaiian Electric Companies put out the call to get biodiesel as part of the utilities’ 150,000 barrels of green fuel a year used to supply Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Company generation facilities: This request for proposals offers biodiesel suppliers — including …
UK Restaurants Encouraged to Make Biodiesel
Diesel prices in the United Kingdom are as expensive as ever. And when you consider the costs of getting waste cooking grease are not getting any less, restaurant owners in the U.K. are being encouraged to make their own biodiesel from that waste. In Biodiesel Magazine, Green Fuels Ltd., a biodiesel production equipment maker, suggests some of its products as …
EPA Indicates Biodiesel on Way to Billion Gallons
The latest numbers from the Environmental Protection Agency shows 132 million gallons of biodiesel was produced in the U.S. during July. Our friends at the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) say that puts year-to-date volumes at more than 768 million gallons, on pace to go over a billion gallons this year: The production volumes are reported under the Biomass-based Diesel category …
Indonesia Aims to Increase Biodiesel Use
Indonesia wants to increase its use of biodiesel. This story from The Jakarta Post says the government’s finance and energy ministries came up with the plan to be greener and solve a fiscal deficit. “The policy is being finalized with an aim to reduce oil and gas imports significantly,” [Deputy Finance Minister Mahendra Siregar] said as quoted by Antara news …
Biodiesel Maker Hits Milestone, Makes Univ. Deal
A biodiesel maker in the Pacific Northwest hits a milestone in making the green fuel and strikes a deal with a major collegiate athletic program in the area. SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel, which turns waste cooking oil into biodiesel, has produced its 20 millionth gallon of the fuel. And this company news release says the region’s longest-running commercial biodiesel producer has …
Biodiesel Feedstock Camelina Genome Sequenced
A Canadian company has announced the release of the genome for camelina, a rising, important feedstock for biodiesel. This Genome Prairie news release says the company’s “Prairie Gold” project was started as a public-private partnership between Genome Prairie, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the National Research Council Canada: Camelina is a technically difficult species to sequence, and the latest in …
Louisiana Animal Fat-to-Diesel Plant Hits Capacity
A Louisiana plant that turns animal fats, used cooking oil and other waste grease into diesel fuel hit capacity this week in its startup phase. This article in The Advocate in Baton Rouge says the Diamond Green Diesel plant, a joint venture between Darling International Inc. and Valero Energy Corp., can now produce about 9,300 barrels per day of biodiesel …
Biodiesel Plant in a Box Hit at Minnesota State Fair
A cargo container seems to be garnering some attention at this year’s Minnesota State Fair. But this isn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill shipping box. This article in the Star-Tribune says it’s built to brew biodiesel: SarTec Corp., an Anoka-based company in the agricultural nutrients and biodiesel business, has developed the unit. It is a smaller, portable version of the Mcgyan technology …