Biodiesel, What You Should Know

 

Environmentally, there are many benefits for biodiesel, but at the moment the economic benefits seem slim. Using Biodiesel decreases greenhouse gas emissions, but why are the prices of biodiesel more than diesel? Shouldn't a renewable energy source be cheaper than refined fuel?

 

The production of biodiesel is actually a rather complicated process.  It requires processing and filtering of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol (usually methanol).  When produced biodiesel is often mixed with petrodiesel, and the biodiesel mixture is denoted by a B then the percentage of biodiesel in the fuel (B20 for example would be 20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel).  The end outcome is cleaner diesel fuel that emits less greenhouse gasses and is friendlier to the environment.

 

There are a number of advantages to using biodiesel, namely that you do not have to convert your car to use it.  When running your car on straight vegetable oil, the car must be converted to accept that type of fuel.  Biodiesel fuel can be used in its pure form without converting any parts on the car.  The fuel also has a higher lubricity, so it runs smoother in the engine.

 

 Physically biodiesel does not have too many disadvantages.  The only problem is that in the winter, vehicles will not be able to use B100 (pure biodiesel) or any biodiesel with a high biodiesel concentration.  The fuel will thicken up and become unusable, unless petrodiesel or other additives are mixed to thin out the fuel.

 

The biggest downside to using biodiesel is the cost.  Not only does biodiesel cost more at the pump, but it also gives lower gas mileage because the energy density of biodiesel is less than that of petrodiesel. 

 

Many reports are circulating claiming that “Biodiesel is expensive at present, but its price is going down while other fuels continue to increase in price.”  The US Department of Energy’s “Alternative Fuel Price Report” for January 2008 shows that the price of B20 biodiesel has increased from $3.08 to $3.37 since October 2007.

 

Unfortunately the price of biodiesel could continue to rise.  It’s supply and demand.  As the demand for biodiesel increases, the price of crops to produce biodiesel will increase.  In essence, we’ll probably see the same increasing price in biodiesel as regular fuels.

 

If you are out to help the environment, biodiesel is a wonderful alternative fuel, but if you are trying to saving money, you might want to just put biodiesel on the watch list for the time being.