Welcome to make biofuel
Welcome to a makebiofuel.co.uk . This website is dedicated to biofuels, related technologies and most of all... making biofuel.
What is Biofuel?
Biofuel bi-o-fu-el (noun) fuel made from biological materials: a renewable fuel that is derived from biological matter, e.g. biodiesel, biogas, and Bioethanol.
Biofuel News
US gets big on Biofuels 3rd Feb 2009 - The USA is spending millions of dollars to find ways of turning everything from algae to lawn trimmings into fuel as President Obama promises to invest heavily in alternative fuels.
The departments of energy and agriculture will award $25 million to advance development of "technologies and processes" to produce so-called "next generation" biofuels that aren't refined from food crops like corn. The announcement follows an agriculture department promise to loan $80 million to Range Fuels, a Colorado company that produces ethanol from wood chips, so it can build a refinery in Georgia.
"A robust biofuels industry - focused on the next-generation of biofuels - is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our addiction to foreign oil and putting Americans back to work," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
Japan Airlines set for Biofuel flights 29th Jan 2009 - Japan Airlines will become the fourth airline in a year to use biofuel during a test flight tomorrow. The hour-long Boeing 747-300 flight will be powered by 50 per cent traditional jet fuel while the other half came from a biofuel blend.
The airline industry is developing second generation fuels from nonedible products, after fuels made from edible plants were criticised. Biofuel used in the latest flight at Tokyo airport was a mixture of camelina (a kind of flax), the flower jatropha and algae. Algae is seen as an especially promising material because ponds with a combined total acreage equal in size to Belgium would be enough to meet all demands from commercial airlines across the globe. Tomorrow's test followed similar flights by Continental Airlines and Air New Zealand. The world's first test flight using biofuel was conducted by Britain's Virgin Atlantic Airways last February.
Queen goes green as her Bentleys are converted to run on biofuel 4th Jan 2009 - The Queen is to set to 'go green' by having her two gas-guzzling state Bentleys converted to run on biofuels. This is part of a move by the British luxury car-maker to become more environmentally friendly - and a new biofuel-burning high-performance car is expected in the New Year.
The Volkswagen-owned, Crewe-based company is to produce a new range of engines which will offer a 40 per cent improvement in fuel economy by 2012, with all new vehicles able to run on the plant-derived fuel. But the 'flex-fuel' system, as it's called, will also allow the vehicles to run on conventional petrol.
Bentley executives said the Royal Family had been extremely supportive of moves to go green and it would be relatively simple to replace the engines of the two state limousines that they presented to the Queen and continue to maintain.
Biofuel from camelina and mustard in the pipeline 3rd Jan 2009 The potential to make biofuels from camelina and mustard is well known, and they might be two good choices for additional oil sources to make biodiesel besides jathropa. The University of Concepcion, in Chile, along with nearby agricultural conglomerates, have funded research to discover the potential of camelina and mustard as sources of oil to produce biodiesel. Camelina proved to be a great source of oil, yielding 25 quintals per ha (about 40 bushels/acre) of which half can be extracted into oil to make biodiesel. The better news is that camelina needs little fertilization and is able to survive in harsh weather. Mustard studies were also promising, yielding 40 quintals per ha (60 bushels per acre), from which they obtained 45 to 50 percent in oil for biodiesel.
Michigan Students convert school bus to run on Waste Vegetable Oil WVO 16 Sept 2008 - Students at the Michigan Technical Academy have converted their own school buses to run on waste vegetable oil. Garden Fresh Foods in Ferndale, Michigan is providing used veggie oil that was first used to fry tortilla chips for no charge. The total cost of the fuel for the two buses that are running on 100-percent veggie oil is estimated at about 80-cents a gallon. Other buses are running on a 10-percent blend of oil and diesel fuel. As the temps in Michigan go down, the blend will be adjusted, though the students are currently hard at work solving that problem with heaters
Eu Changes Biofuels requirements 12 Sept 2008 Support for crop-based biofuels is falling in many parts of the world, including Europe. When the European Commission proposed that 10 percent of road transport fuel should come from renewable sources by 2020 it didn't specify what types of renewable energy should be used. The European Parliament's industry committee has now endorsed the 10 percent requirement. However, in a nod to environmentalists, the committee has decided that at least 40 percent of that should be provided by hydrogen or electricity from renewable sources or next-generation biofuels. Environmentalists still aren't entirely pleased but the move to limit use of crop-based fuels is seen as a positive development. The committee's decision will be used as the basis for negotiations among member states of the EU before passage of final regulations, likely some time in 2009.
New technology could make ethanol from biomass by 2010 5th Sept 2008 - Researchers from the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and Byogy Renewables say that a new technology could turn everyday waste into petrol as early as 2010. The process makes converting biomass to high-octane petrol possible, and might be the only integrated system that converts biomass directly to petrol. Most other emerging processes convert the biomass into alcohol and then blend it with petrol. The system is relatively inexpensive and focuses on using biomass waste streams and non-food energy crops rather than food products such as corn. TEES says that the cost of such a conversion would probably be between $1.70 and $2.00 (1.17euro -1.38) per gallon excluding all subsidies and tax credits, with the cost depending on the type and cost of feedstock as well as the size of the biorefinery.'This technology is important because it addresses many issues: eliminating waste, producing economical fuel quickly and being friendly to our environment,' Kenneth Hall, associate director of TEES, comments. 'This technology is ready to be commercialized now and does not require any new scientific or technological breakthroughs to become a reality.'Byogy has licensed the process and hopes to have a plant using the technology up and running within 18 months to two years.
UK think-tank urges government to End biofuels subsidies 30th Aug 2008 - Independent think-tank, The Policy Exchange has called on the Government to stop funding biofuels. Their recent report claims that biofuel targets encourage biofuel crops to replace natural forests.The root of the matter editor Ben Caldecott said in the Guardian: In the UK alone, biofuel subsidies cost 550 million pound annually. In 2005, a similar investment in preventing deforestation and peatland destruction could have offset the equivalent of up to 37 per cent of all UK CO2 emissions. Yet current government policy places no value on protecting forests and peatlands.
Only 19 percent of UK biofuel meets sustainability standard 15th Aug 2008 - UK based fuels regulator the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) says only 19% of the biofuel supplied under the government's new initiative to use fuel from plants meets its standard. Suppliers could not identify the origin of the remaining 81% or prove its sustainability. The suppliers began mixing the biofuel into all petrol and diesel supplies in April, under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The figures show that biofuel accounted for 2.1% of UK road fuel for the first month of the scheme, against a target for the year of 2.5%. The majority of biofuel was biodiesel (86%), with 14% bioethanol.
Toyota Prius to get Ethanol Conversion (E85)
11 Aug 2008 - With its super ultra low emissions the Toyota Prius has long been a favourite among environmentalists and the MPG wary, not to mention being endorsed by numerous celebrities. However, hybrid cars are not quite the finished article as far as producing truly green vehicles is concerned - due to their reliance on petroleum or diesel alongside electricity. To become truly green, renewable resources need to be used - and following the success of many third-party companies converting the Prius into a plug-in hybrid, this Toyota model may soon be equipped with various fuelling systems. Its first eco-upgrade will be to offer E85 conversions (85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent regular fuel) A Dutch firm named Green Fuel Systems has created a conversion kit that costs just 549 Euros. Toyota have already outlined plans for solar panels to be incorporated into future Prius designs, the car could soon have some dazzling green credentials.
Compressed Biomethane (CBMO London Trial
05 August 2008 - A commercial trial of a liquid gas fuel called Compressed Biomethane (CBM) that is produced from gas extracted from a landfill site has been announced today by Veolia Environmental Services, Gasrec and Iveco. The trial (taking place in London) will see an Iveco natural gas vehicle, supplied by Gasrec, the producer of the liquid biomethane fuel, to Veolia, a UK waste management company, operating in the London Borough of Camden.
Manila Police to use Mc Donalds waste oil for biodiesel (Mc Biodiesel)
31 July 2008 - Police in Manila (the capitol city of the Philippines) have taken up a new effort in order to save some green, though they will be spreading some green in the process. It seems that the Police force will be converting its cruisers to run on a mixture of waste vegetable oil (WVO) and diesel fuel. The oil in question will be donated by McDonalds. Other local area restaurants are also considering making similar donations. So far, just one vehicle has had the conversion done, though more are likely to closely follow. If the program in Manila proves successful, other nearby cities are likely to follow suit.
British Company makes Bioethanol from Waste
21 July 2008
British Chenmical company Ineos claimed yesterday to have become the first to have found a way to make fuel from waste. Ineos press release claims they have patented a method of producing fuel from municipal solid waste, agricultural waste and organic commercial waste.
The company claims that it can produce about 400 litres of bioethanol from one tonne of dry waste. The process works by heating the waste to produce gases then feeding the gases to bacteria which produce ethanol that is purified into a fuel. Ineos plan to sell the environmentaly friendly product in industrial quantities by the end of 2010. 'This should mean that, unlike with other biofuels, we won't have to make the choice between food and fuel.' said Peter Williams, the chief executive of Ineos Bio.
Morrisons offering B30 Biodiesel at its pumps
18 July 2008 - UK Superstore giant Morrisons has launched a new biodiesel that has been approved for use by PSA Peugeot-Citroen. The new B30 pump isnNow available at more than 50 of the supermarket's forecourts across the UK. The Harvest B30 Biodiesel can be used to run any HDi-engined Citroen or Peugeot built since 1998, this is estimated to be some 1.5 million cars. B30 Biodiesel is made of 30 per cent biodiesel and 70 per cent standard diesel.
'Our new B30 is 50 per cent recycled cooking oil and 50 per cent rapeseed oil, all UK-sourced,' says Morrisons' petrol director Phil Maud. 'It's refined in Northumbria, so we're very happy with it from a sustainability point of view.'
AutoExpress reports on booming UK Home-brew Biodiesel
17 July 2008 - The UK Automotive Mag AutoExpress is reporting that Home-brew biodiesel is booming in the UK! The report that DIY Biodiesel kits are flying off the shelves according to manufacturers as Diesel pump prices rocket to over 1.35 pound a litre at many filling stations.
Biodiesel kit supplier Goat Industries says sales of its Twyn Tub have risen by 25 per cent in the past year while Green Fuels claims that it's struggling to keep up with demand.
Makers of the kits say the eco-friendly fuel costs 15p a litre to produce this coupled with the scrapping on Tax for low level producers has spurred on thrifty car owners. With the price of cooking oil rising from 50 to 550 (GBP) a tonne in the past five years, fast food outlets have seen a surge in the theft of waste cooking oil the fuel's raw material. Recycler Envirogroup, based in Faversham in Kent, collects 370,000 litres of waste oil a year to produce the green fuel, and it says sales of its 1.08-a-litre biodiesel have tripled in the past three months.
Construction work starts on new UK Bioethanol Plant in Hull 17 July 2008 - Construction work has started at the site of a new 200 million pound bioethanol plant in Saltend near Hull. The plant, which will take 1.1 million tonnes of mainly UK-grown wheat is a joint venture between Associated British Foods, energy group BP and US chemical and health care company DuPont called Vivergo Fuels. 'We're now moving on to the next stage of construction and are on target to start producing ethanol in summer 2010,' Vivergo MD David Richards says. 'It's fully equity funded, so all funding is in place.'
World Bank report blames Biofuel for 75percent increase in cost of fuel 07 July 2008 -
A secret World Bank report revealed by the Guardian newspaper has blamed biofuel production for the food price crisis. The leaked report claims that biofuels caused global food prices to rise by 75 percent. This is much higher than previous estimates of around 30 percent.
A government-commissioned report recommends UK ministers "amend not abandon" biofuel policies as the European Parliament is about to vote on whether to scrap the EU's target of sourcing 10% of transport fuel from biofuels by 2020.
Prince Charles converts beloved Aston Martin DB6 for run on Bioethanol B100 02 July 2008 - Prince Charles's beloved Aston Martin DB6 has been converted to run on B100 bioethanol fuel distilled from surplus British wine. The wine sourced from a vineyard in Wiltshire will be fueling HRH's Vintage sports car to the tune of the equivalent of 4.5 bottles of wine for every mile. Aides said this was partly due to the pattern of Royal trips set by the Foreign Office. He has now doubled the target to a 25 per cent fall in emissions by 2018.
Airlines join Algal Biomass Organization 25 June 2008 - Airlines: Air New Zealand, Continental, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa have announced they will join the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO). The Algal Biomass Organization is a US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of algal biomass production technologies. The organisation facilitates commercialisation and market development of microalgae biomass specifically for biofuels production and greenhouse gas abatement.
Both Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic plan to use biofuel to meet 10% of its fuel needs within the next five years while German Airline Lufthansa aim to reduce carbon emissions per flown kilometre by 25% in 2020 as compared to the emission level in 2006.
19th World Petroleum Congress 2008 29th to July 3rd June 20th 2008 - On the eve of the World Petroleum Council's 75th Anniversary, in July 2008, Spain will open the doors to the 19th World Petroleum Congress. The most influential meeting place of the global oil and gas industry will be celebrating 75 years of excellence in Madrid from June 29th until July 3rd. This is where governments and oil companies, IOCs and NOCs, industry and stakeholders from around the globe come together to set out the way forward for the petroleum sector. Held every three years, the World Petroleum Congress well deserves its reputation as the Olympics of the oil and gas industry'.
The 19th WPC has already received support from the highest levels in Spain. The King of Spain, H.M. Juan Carlos I, personally extended his support to the Board Members of the World Petroleum Council and the Spanish Association to organize the 19th WPC during an audience at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.
The Congress Programme Committee has prepared a wide-ranged Technical Programme to recognize the scientific, technological and professional achievements of the petroleum industry
More information can be found on the 19th World Petroleum Congress 2008 Website
St1 Opens Biothanol Dehyration Plant in Finland 19th June 2008 - St1's unique Etanolix concept of dispersed production of ethanol is supplemented now with a central dehydration plant at the port of Hamina town. The plant will be inaugurated today by Minister of the Environment, Ms. Paula Lehtomaki. The ethanol produced from waste in the dispersed Etanolix units will be dehydrated in Hamina. The dehydration plant is situated at the port of Hamina. Its yearly capacity is now 44 million liters of 99.8 % bioethanol, which will be blended with gasoline. Preparations have already been made to double the capacity. The opening of the dehydration plant is also a springboard to new motor fuel projects. St1 is working at the moment on high concentration biofuel, in which the main component will be ethanol produced from domestic waste.
Oil Prices hit record high 16th June 2008 - World Oil prices rocketed to a record high of almost $140 dollars per barrel today despite an offer from Saudi Arabia producers to increase oil output by 200,000 barrels a day. Light sweet crude oil for July delivery reached $139.89 dollars, surpassing a previous high of $139.12 hit on June 6. The spike in oil prices coincided with protests in Europe about the high price of fuel while British tanker drivers continued their strikes over pay by refusing to deliver petrol to Shell stations for a fourth day. Analysts are blaming today's surge in prices on the sliding value of the US dollar, prompting investors to flee to safer commodities such as oil.
Bioethanol Production Page added. Site Update 14th June 2008 - Will all the hype of Biodiesel I thought that Bioethanol was due some attention at long last. I have just added the Bioethanol Production page giving you general information on Bioethanol and its production.
First Biofuel Plant in Wales opens today 12th June 2008 - The first biodiesel plant in Wales will be opening its dooes for business on Thursday 12 June (today). The BML Biofuel processing plant at Derwydd Farm near Cerrigydrudion will produce 1.3 million litres of lovely biofuel a year. BML Biofuel co-owner Llyr Jones said 'This will be the first cold press oilseed rape plant in Wales producing biofuel and over 2,500 tonnes of high protein pellets for the livestock industry every year,'.'Not only are we looking for farmers who might be interested in growing oilseed rape to supply our raw material, but the biodiesel we produce will be cleaner and up to 40% cheaper than conventional diesel,' Jones adds. The oilseed rape needed for the plant will initially be supplied from Shropshire and Herefordshire in England.
European truckers strike over fuel prices 9th June 2008 - Just like the fuel protests in here in the UK our neighbours over on the continent are also taking action over high diesel prices. The strike by Spanish and French truckers taking place this week. Diesel prices are around 1.30 euro/litre in Spain and 1.45 euro in France. Those prices might be high compared to other countries but its the fact that diesel prices have jumped up 40 percent in less than a year that has tipped the truckers over the edge. Major cities in Spain such as Valencia, Madrid or Barcelona suffered traffic jams because of demonstrations where trucks were driven at low speeds, making getting around difficult for other vehicles. The two main borders between Spain and France were also blocked and demonstrators prevented any truck from crossing. In response, the Spanish government offered an agreement to the Freight Unions. It includes a flexible fare system where transport could reflect fuel prices directly, as well as other measures like subventions for early retirement.
World Leaders urged to cut Biodfuel targets 3rd June 2008 - Today World leaders will be urged to cut EU and US biofuel targets immediately and divert more grain to tackle the global food crisis. As more than 40 heads of state meet at the emergency food summit in Rome, aid organisations stepped up their demand for action on biofuels, which they claim have contributed to an 83 per cent rise in food prices in the past three years.Britain is now reviewing its own Biofuel target, which is to ensure by 2010 5 per cent of transport fuel is made up of biofuels. The European Commission is drawing up a compulsory target for all EU members of a 10 per cent minimum of biofuels by 2020.Aid organisations are claiming the switch to biofuels to reduce carbon emissions is directly linked to higher prices and has led to the destruction of rainforests and grasslands, As more land is diverted from growing crops for consumption to grain for ethanol, food inflation will rocket even farther, they argue.
Bio Diesel Performance - How Does Biodiesel Affect Vehciles 1st June 2008 - In another Video from ParleysDiesel we get some more information on the effect that Biodiesel has on vehicle performance. Check out this excellent youtube video.
This video and link has also been added to our FAQ page
Convert Biodiesel to Petrol with Biolene 25th May 2008 - XcelPlus and Maverick BioFuels have developed a new type of fuel that is compatible with gasoline engines. What's interesting is that this fuel is obtained from biodiesel. An additive, named Biolene, allows the intrepid to homebrew gasoline from biodiesel. XcelPlus and Maverick BioFuels say they are happy with the results. According to Mr. Bill R. Smith, president of Xcelplus, "current testing of the fuel is being conducted with test vehicles run exclusively on Biolene. The test vehicles are being monitored for CO, CO2, hydrocarbon, O2 and NOx exhaust emissions, and we are very pleased with test results to date. We are looking towards an ASTM testing for the fuel before launching it into global markets."
What Is Biodiesel? Straight Vegetable Oil vs Bio Diesel - YouTube Video 21st May 2008 - For those of you still needing more information on Diesel Biofuel and running SVO should check out the video below from ParleysDiesel. This video gives a basic introduction to organic oils and how they can be run in diesel engines. Also check out their other videos, theres some great information there.
This video and link has also been added to our Using SVO/WVO page
Oil to hit $130 a barrel - Fuel Protests to come 21st May 2008 - A trading frenzy has sent oil prices to nearly $130 a barrel last night. Chancellor Alistair Darling pledged international action to beg producers to release more oil. Diesel prices are rising even faster than petrol with an average increase to 125.4p a litre (5.70GBP a gallon), crippling motorists and hauliers alike. Motoring groups fear the 6 GBP gallon is only weeks away. A new round of UK fuel protests is due to start next week as critics demand the Chancellor slashes fuel duty. Yesterday the world's biggest oil producer Saudi Arabia was celebrating 75 years of its national oil company - but showed no signs of releasing more supplies.
Biodiesel causing a stir at the pumps 17th May 2008 - Diesel fuel in the UK is required to be blended with 2.5 percent biodiesel. Unfortunately for us lucky oil burning Brits it is already starting to cause problems. Bacteria that feeds on the biofuel is causing clumps to form in the fuel, this is in turn blocking filters in the fuel system. Todays diesel fuel injectors dont take kindly to being starved of fuel and can ver VERY costy to replace or repair. Only a regular maintenance routine consisting of thoroughly cleaning out the fuel storage tanks to eliminate the bacterial growth. The Petrol Retailers Association has issued guidelines for operators that include testing the tanks for excess water. This problem will have to be addressed aggressively because the biofuel requirement is set to increase to 5 percent in 2010.
Theves target used oil 16 May 2008 - It wasnt that long ago that restaurants had to pay to have their waste oil taken away. With the current boom in homemade biodiesel restaurants are now having the stuff taken away for free by home biodiesel producers. Reports from US restaurants in Wichita, Kansas are showing that people are now resorting to stealing the waste oil to fuel their biofuel desires. AJust wait till they pay 10 dollars a gallon like us lucky Brits in the UK
Record Diesel sales in UK 14th May 2008 - April 2008 has set a new UK record for diesel sales with 45.4 percent of all new vehicle registrations being oil-burners. The UK'a best diesel seller still remains the Ford Focus. For the record the year-to-date percentage of diesel vehicles sold in the UK stands at 42.7 percent. If only Biodiesel was the fuel of choice for the newly converted diesel users.
Hypermiler.co.uk now online 13th May 2008 - Hypermilers are drivers who exceed the manufacturers estimated fuel efficiency on their vehicles by modifying their driving habits. With prices at the pumps rocketing day by day the Hypermiling bug is an easy way to both increase your MPG and save you money. Just imagine, making your own Biofuel and hypermiling too, that could be a serious saving - not just for you but for the environment. check out Hypermiler.co.uk today!
UK Petrol prices reach 5 Pound a gallon 1st May 2008 - Figures compiled by the AA showed that on the national average price for a litre of unleaded petrol rose to 110.2p, or 5.01 GBP a gallon. Diesel now costs 120.51p, or 5.48 GBP a gallon. The president of the AA, Edmund King described the record high as "the latest milestone along a miserable road of increasing fuel prices this year".
UK Fuel Prices Rise Sharply ahead of planned strike 23rd April 2008 - Uk Petrol prices are rising sharply amid fears of widespread fuel shortages ahead of a planned strike at Scotland's largest oil refinery Grangemouth - which produces 196,000 barrels a day. Emergency Talks were under way today to avert a strike as oil prices hit a new record high overnight. There is grave concern that there may be a repeat of scenes in 2000 when queues blocked garage forecourts during the last fuel strike. UK Consumer groups have accused petrol retailers of using fears about shortages to ramp up profits after pump prices jumped by up to 5p a litre in 48 hours. Retailers blamed the rises on the oil price, which hit a record $120 a barrel yesterday, almost double its closing price a year ago.
UK Grass ideal source of Biofuel 22nd April 2008 - Grass from the UK's western counties could become a primary source of biofuel. According to scientists from the Wales-based Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research Commercially grown grasses could produce more fuel per acre than wheat or rapeseed oil and approximately the same as sugar beet. Around 60% of the UK's agricultural land is grassland and the development of biofuels from fermented grass sugars could provide an alternative income for UK farmers.
UK Fuel to contain 2.5 Percent biofuel 21st April 2008 - From April 15 all UK petrol and diesel sold will now include at least 2.5 percent biofuel under ruling from the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO), By 2010 The target will rise to 5% biofuel. UK Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick says that 'gradually introducing biofuels could help save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide in the next few years'. The UK has done more than any other country to make sure they are produced sustainably. We will not increase biofuels targets beyond 5% unless we are satisfied this can be done without damaging the environmental impact'
Website Update!! Biofuel FAQ 19th April 2008 - Even more Biofuel freqently asked questions added to makebiofuel.co.uk. Click for the Biofuel FAQ
President of Brazil Defends Biofuels 17th April 2008 - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil made a passionate defense of biofuels denying that their production contributes to food scarcity and rising global food prices. Luiz also sharply criticized the industrial countries for subsidizing agricultural output, which he blamed for undermining the competitiveness of developing nations and reducing world food production. In his speech at the Latin American meeting of the U.N.'s Food and Agricultural OrganizationIn he said "Biofuels aren't the villain that threatens food security, on the contrary ... they can pull countries out of energy dependency without affecting foods." Brazil is the world's leading exporter of ethanol and the world's second biggest producer after the USA. Brazil makes the biofuel from sugar cane, as opposed to the corn-based ethanol that dominates USA ethanol production.
Scanaia Announces Ethanol Trucks 16th April 2008 - Sweedish firm Scania has announced that after 20 years of providing ethanol buses they are extending their Ethanol line up from next year to include trucks . They also announced they are to build a network of Ethanol fueling stations to make it easier for small businesses to buy Biofuel (or Bioethanol as they have confirmed). Scania's ethanol engines work according to the diesel principle (compression-ignition), meaning these engines are as efficient as common diesel engines. Scania's ethanol-powered buses are already running in countries such as the UK, Spain, Italy, Brazil, China, Australia and Poland.
Biofuel demand approaches 100 million tonnes 14th April 2008 - A recent study has predicted that biofuel demand expand nearly 20 percent a year to 92 million tonnes in 2011. This expansion will come as the world market for bioethanol doubles and biodiesel demand grow. The majority of this growth will be driven by a rapid expansion of the biofuel market in the US, particularly for bioethanol. The Asia/Pacific region and western Europe will experience even faster advances. Together with a combination of domestic politics, rising oil costs and increasing concerns about global warming is only fueling (no pun intended) the Biofuel market growth
Co2 from Plant fed to Biodiesel producing microalgae 13th April 2008 - Holcim and Aurantia are starting a new project to reuse waste CO2. They plan to take the CO2 produced by a cement plant in Spain and "feed" it to microalgae which then turn around and produce biodiesel. The results of this project will be tested to assess if the carbon dioxide supplied by the cement plant is suitable for the algae. The two companies will also select the best type of algae for the project as well as assessing the viability of the project. The test will be performed on an-almost industrial scale, so once the final green light is given, it could start working immediately.
Biogas from carcasses? 11th April 2008 - The Imida institute Spain is currently investigating making biogas from carcasses of and other animal parts discarded from slaughterhouses. Imida liquefies the discarded parts using a bacteria present in the meat itself. This meat "product" then is fermented in tanks and produces about 30 to 40 m3 of biogas per 40,000 liters. Not a process I would recommend to try at home
Make biofuel FORUM now online 3rd April 2008 - The Make biofuel FORUM is now online. Why not register and join in with our online Biofuel community. Its still in its early stages so any suggestions or comments would be appreciated..
Click for the Makebiofuel Forum
Article added - Make biofuel presents HOW TO MAKE BIODIESEL AT HOME 25th March 2008 - I have just updated the Biodiesel home production page with a quick and easy guide on how you can make your very own biodiesel at home with little more than a bottle of Vegetable oil and some chemicals brought of the shelf. Now you can try your hand at making Biodiesel without the expense of buying or making your own Biodiesel processor. Check out the Make Biodiesel at Home page and start producing your own Biodiesel today.
BMw 520D Vs Toyota Prius "MPG Battle" 23th March 2008 - Readers of the Uk's Sunday times will have noticed a very interesting article which put the BWM 520D up against the celeb magnet Toyota Prius in a battle of MPG. Surprisingly the BMW came out on top proving that the relentless efficiency of the German Diesel engine was more than a match for Japans flagship Hybrid. Given the choice, I think there's no contest. Next question... how will it run on B100?
Click for the full article on the Sunday Times Website.
US Army trialing portable biofuel plants 15th March 2008 - The US Army will soon be using kitchen and other waste to produce biofuel. The drive has come from Armys need to cut down on diesel convoys that have proven to be targets. If the idea of portable biopower and biofuel plants takes off in Iraq, then there is an outside chance that they might make their way into the mainstream.
RFA Welcomes Review Request 8th March 2008 - The RFA (Renewable Fuels Agency) has welcomed the announcement that the British Government has asked it to undertake a review of the indirect impacts of increasing demand for biofuels. The Chairman of the RFA (Ed Gallaghe) said "I am delighted that we have been asked to lead this important study. The RFA will draw upon the best evidence, consult widely with all stakeholders and make the results public. There are many factors affecting the biofuels market and we are determined to have these properly covered in our reporting systems, specially those affecting sustainability. This review will enable us to assess indirect effects of biofuels including those on land use change."The request was made by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. The Government has made clear that it would like the RFA to report back as soon as possible in order to be able to have the best opportunity of influencing EU negotiations on future biofuel targets.
Lotus Exige 265E 4th March 2008 - Not only is the 265E the most powerful road version of the Lotus Exige to date - it runs on Bio Ethanol! This biofuel powered featherwieght launches to 60mph in just 3.9 seconds, and generates over 260 brake horse power from its supercharged 1.8 litre engine which tops out at 158mph. The Lotus Exige 265E ('E' signifying the engine can be powered with ethanol fuel), was developed in just 5 weeks during which Lotus engineers re-engineered the Toyota engine in a standard Exige to run on bio-ethanol. Using bio-ethanol results in as much as 70% less net emissions on carbon dioxide since the wheat (or other crop) absorbs carbon dioxide while it is growing.
Biofuel 747 Takes to the Sky 24th Feb 2008 - Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic flew a Boeing 747 from London to Amsterdam on Sunday powered in part by a biodiesel made from tropical oils.The fuel used by the plane is a combination of regular kerosene-based jet fuel and a biodiesel from Imperium Renewables composed of babassu oil and coconut oil. Babassu comes from a tree in Brazil. In fact, 80 percent of the fuel consumed by the plane was kerosene-based. Only 20 percent of the fuel used on the flight came from plant oils. Still, it's a first, says Virgin.
Biofuel "farms" increase CO2 18th Feb 2008 - Scientists have found that converting rainforests, peatlands and grasslands can outweigh the carbon savings made from biofuels and produce "carbon debts" which could take centuries to pay off. The study will add to concerns about the ability of biofuels to replace fossil fuels. The EU is reviewing its pledge that biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel should make up 10% of transport fuel by 2020. Britain has a separate target of 5% biofuels in petrol and diesel by 2010. Is anybody really surprised at this? With the Earths dependency on Biofuel ever increasing surely the way forward is converting disused wasteland into Biofuel crops instead of further destroying our natural environment to "fuel" our thirst for renewable fuels
MTV's Pimp My Ride offers 800BHP B100 '65 Chevrolet Impala 10th Feb 2008 - Its not often that a show like MTV's Pimp My Ride gets me interested but I happened to catch this today on SKY (UK) and I was totally amazed by this 800BHP '65 Chevrolet Impala running on B100 Biodiesel. I personally applaud MTV to taking such a bold step but also for educating MTV viewers with the process of making biodiesel transesterification. To top it of the program not only featured a guest appearance from Green Governor himself Arnold Schwarzenegger but also raced (and beat) a Lamborghini Gallardo over the standing 1/4 mile . Who said Diesel cars were slow?
Q-100 Handheld Biodiesel tester 5th Feb 2008 - The Q-100 is a handheld biodiesel quality tester made by the Wisconsin company Paradigm Sensors, the i-Spec can test for total glycerin, acid number, blend percent, and methanol in the field. Paradign is introducing the tool at the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference Expo, currently taking place in Florida. Over at the Paradigm website, the company declares the tool "breaks through barriers to testing of biodiesel, which are as follows: the expense of testing, the length of time to test, the expertise needed to test, and the consistency and reliability of the testing results of instruments used in the field." We assume independent testing will be done in short order, but for now this technology looks promising for people who want to get a better idea of exactly what's in the tank of biodiesel they're making or buying.
Website Update!! Using SVO / WVO in your Diesel Car Click for the Using SVO / WVO in your Diesel Car
Nevada Students turn coffee into Biofuel 4th Feb 2008 - An Engineering and Chemical team at the University of Nevada has recently developed a process to convert used coffee grounds / beans into biodiesel. The researchers say that up to 3 million gallons of biodiesel could be produced annually just from the 100,000 tonnes of coffee-ground produced by Starbucks each year. The team also concludes that the coffee-ground oil feedstock costing between $0.45 (0.30 euro) to $1.84 less than feedstocks such as corn or soy, is more stable than comparable feedstock oils, and the grounds can be further processed into fuel for pellet stoves. Maybe Starbucks will look at fueling their fleet with their own biofuel just like McDonalds "McBiodiesel"
UK Government Discovers the podcast 2nd Feb 2008 - The British Parliament has discovered pod casting and has decided to make biofuels the subject of its first trial podcast, its quite a lengthy cast that goes into quite some detail covering everything from making biofuels to biofuels impact on the environment. UK Parliament Biofuel Podcast
Paris Hilton loves The Environment? 01st Feb 2008 - Just when you thought everybody had jumped on the eco bandwagon, my girlfriend's least favority celeb comes out with this gem "I changed all the light bulbs to energy-safe light bulbs and I'm buying a hybrid car right now. ... Little things that people can do every day to make a huge difference" I just wonder if she'll swap her Merc SLR for a Telse or maybe even opt for a 95 Vauxhall Vectra running on SVO. It seems that being eco friendly is very fashionable at the minute, but unlike most American fads I just hope this one lasts!
Biofuel Ferrari F430 29th Jan 2008 - Ferrari used its Detroit stand to show off a bioethanol-powered F430 Spider as proof of its aim to cut overall emissions levels by 40 per cent by 2012. The Spider runs on E85 bioethanol - that's fuel with 85 per cent ethanol - which, says, Ferrari, reduces CO2 output by five per cent. That's a mere, erm, 399g/km of CO2, then. Though Ferrari says that all its current cars can run on up to 10 per cent bioethanol without modification, the F430 required a few tweaks to run on the strong stuff. A few revisions to the fuel feed system and engine CPU did the trick and, serendipitously, helped to up power, too: the biofuel Spider puts out an extra 10bhp and 14lb ft more torque than the petrol-powered variant.
The arrival of £5 a gallon diesel 21 Jan 2008 - For those of you who subscribe to petrolprices.com you may already know that the UK is fast approaching the £5 a gallon mark. With diesel prices now averaging over 109.3p a Litre it has never been a better time to turn to Biofuel. Blame who you want... Gordon Brown or the conflict in the middle east, the true casualties of this war on fuel are the British public.
Heres food for thought, ever wondered how much duty is added by the man at number 10. Click for a link to the Hydrocarbon Oils Duty: Rates. Yes, you did read correctly. As from April 2008 the government will increase the ruty rate on fuels by 2p.
Website Updated 18 Jan 2008 - Thanks to all of you that have helped get makebiofuel up and running. I will up updating this news page with events and news from the world biofuel and associated industries.
Useful Links
Here are some useful link to pages on the Biofuel webiste
Biofuel production
What is biofuel
Making biofuel
Using Biodiesel in common rail engines
Advantages and disadvantages of biofuel
How to make biofuel / How to make biodiesel fuel
Biofuels news
Coming Soon!
My experiences with using straight SVO in my Vauxhall Cavalier
The best engines for biofuel / best cars
Biodiesel kits, Biodiesel testing
If you would like to contribute to the site then email biofuel@makebiofuel.co.uk
