Biofuels - Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel

NOAA'S GREEN SHIP INITIATIVE

Pioneering marine biofuel work over the last 20 years at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab led by Supt. Dennis Donahue.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIODIESEL AND RENEWABLE (GREEN) DIESEL

Straightforward article from Advanced Biofuels USA describing the differences between RedD and BioD.

Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels

Good primer on Hydrocarbon biofuels from the US Dept. of Energy.

SF-AREA FUEL DOCK GOES GREEN WITH RENEWABLE DIESEL

The Berkeley Marine Center has converted its petroleum diesel fuel pump and tankage to Renewable Diesel, one of the first in the US to do so.  There are still none in the Inside Passage marine waterway...who will be the first five fuel docks to do so and make toxic free voyaging possible in the NW?

BC RENEWABLE & LOW CARBON FUEL ACT REQUIRES 10% CARBON REDUCTION IN FUEL SOLD FOR 2020

One way to meet these requirements is by adding a biodiesel or Renewable diesel pump!

NESTE RENEWABLE DIESEL HANDBOOK

NESTE of Finland is shipping Renewable diesel made from pulp and paper mill waste on oil tankers to California to meet commercial and personal demand.  Their handbook is a terrific guide to the fuel most likely to be at the center of decarbonizing and detoxing the Inside Passage marine waterway.

local innovator enerkem supplies renewable diesel to two alberta cities using their municipal waste

Enerkem has figured out how to solve two major problems at once:  reducing landfill volumes and costs, and supplying locally made jobs and fuel from municipal waste (minus just the metals).  When will the first retired large pulp and paper mill became a Renewable diesel producer in Canada?

CALIFORNIA SIGHTSEEING CRUISE LINE SWITCHES ITS ENTIRE FLEET TO RENEWABLE DIESEL...many truck fleets doing the same

The San Francisco based Red & White Lines has joined other fleets around the world to switch to clean, very low carbon and cost competitive Renewable diesel from petro-diesel.  Who will be the first fleet in the NW to do the same?  The roughly 50% reduction in highly-carcinogenic soot (particulates) is making their filters last longer and helping to reduce operating costs.  The UK's venerable Red Funnel line of ropax ferries is currently trialing RenD and expecting to make the same switch.  Many trucking lines have already done the same locally and worldwide, including the municipal trucks of Vancouver, BC and NYC.

Cummins statement of approval of Renewable diesel for all of its medium-duty engines...testing others

Like most other diesel engine manufacturers, Cummins issued this statement re. their full approval of Renewable diesel in there medium-duty engines.  They are finishing testing other engines in their line and other approvals can reasonably be expected.

Volvo Trucks OKs Use of Renewable Diesel for Its Engines

Like virtually all other diesel manufacturers, Volvo has signed off the use of RenD100 in its heavy engines. As reported by Transport Topics.

new study for danish government details biofuels for commercial and recreational boating -  shows abundant cellulosic waste-based renewable diesel feedstock for all shipping and boating worldwide

This groundbreaking new study looks at the ideal non-toxic, waste-sourced (renewable) fuels for types of vessels.  It endorses Renewable diesel as an ideal future clean fuel for four-stroke marine diesels in light displacement vessels including recreational boats, tugs, small passenger vessels, etc.  Must reading.

california air resources board (CARB) two-year study says renewable diesel "Inherently non-toxic" 

CA Air Resources Board Tier 1 study of RenD, including production toxicity, transport, etc.

Practical Sailor's Exuberant Recommendation of H2Out Fuel Vent Line Dessicant Devices for Marine Biodiesel

Practical Sailor is the gold standard for the unbiased review of marine gear. They have twice given their highest award to H2Out for its highly effective dessicant devices for extending the life of biodiesel in fuel or storage tanks.

Consolidated Biofuels Ltd.

Delta/Vancouver, BC based producer and supplier of green biofuels since 2009.

Lower Mainland Biodiesel

E. Vancouver, BC producer and supplier of green biodiesel.  No marine biodiesel station...yet.

ISLAND BIODIESEL CO-OPERATIVE

All waste-based (Used Cooking Oil) biodiesel source in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. Their website boasts of 92.5% greenhouse gas deductions!  No marine station...yet.

Cowichan energy alternatives

Cowichan's nearly 20-year-old biodiesel co-op, north of Victoria and Sydney, BC, makes 100% of its B100 biodiesel from waste, Used Cooking Oil (UCO) to be specific. And they are looking into putting in a marine fueling pump!  The saved a new biodiesel blending pump that looks interesting and useful.

SEQUENTIAL, OREGON'S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF BIODIESEL

SQ makes 8M gallons of certified biodiesel annually from used food production oil, available at two dedicated stations and dozens of pumps throughout OR. Ama Natura has always used SQ biodiesel.

New purdue university study shows that biodiesel lowers carbon more than earlier estimates

The latest research indicates that biodiesel green house gas emissions overall are 10% lower than prior studies have shown.

State of [Vanouver] island economic summit concludes that vision and leadership are needed to advance clean technology on the island...Including gettng "off of diesel."

As reported by the Nanaimo News Bulletin, the need to get more of the Island "off of diesel" is one of the clear conclusions.  The Inside Passage Decarbonization Project is about nothing if not vision and leadership!  Let's all work together!

report on the top 7 eu advances in utilizing industrial waste

Europe is trying hard to reduce its waste by finding ways to convert it to fuel, petroleum-based chemicals and plastics, etc.  Read about that here.

Alberta's enerkem is getting $3.5M from the Canadian government to convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste into liquid biofuels

Waste is the new worldwide resource extraction industry, except that this industry is dramatically lowering carbon and in general focused on cleaning up the environment rather than downgrading it while creating jobs and wealth.

Biodiesel and Common Rail Engines

Empirical experience, mostly in VW turbodiesels, regarding the non-recommended use of high concentrations of biodiesel in common rail diesels.

Information for Boaters: Biodiesel for Marine Engines

One page marine biodiesel use guide from Dr. Randall von Wedel of CytoCulture.

Ship voyages on 100 percent renewable biofuel for 1 year

Account of Scripps Oceanographic Institute's one-year use of Renewable Diesel in one of its floating research platforms.

Innovative refinery to turn municipal waste into high-grade fuel

Increasingly common example from Alberta of making Renewable and Biodiesel from municipal waste; Portland, OR is doing the same now.

Great Leaf Forward: The Top 10 Trends driving the Canadian advanced bioeconomy

Financial, regulatory and participant look at the Canadian bioeconomy from Jim Lane of the Biofuels Digest.

Helsinki launches project to convert commercial and public transport fleet to 100% bio by 2020

Helsinki plans to have their entire commercial and public transport fleet using biodiesel by 2020! Here's how.

Canfor Pulp Receives Funding to Support Clean Technology Project

From Canfor's website. Report of over $13M Canadian government grant to develop Canfor's new Prince Rupert green RenD production plant.

Coast Guard IS TRYING Out Diesel Outboards

Maritime Executive report on the US Coast Guard's look at going to a single fuel, which could easily become Renewable diesel.   This may be the answer for how gas outboard owners can go near carbon free.

The Greenest Skies You’ve Ever Seen are in Seattle: Sea-Tac Airport leads on financing strategy for sustainable aviation fuels

New study looking at how to finance the transition to Renewable Aviation Fuel and how Seattle leads on this.

Breathing easier? The known impacts of biodiesel on air quality

US National Institute of Health funded medical study on biodiesel versus diesel air quality. Very detailed.

US consumed nearly 2.9 billion gallons of bio and renewable diesel in 2016

Useful data from the old EPA, before this kind of data was hidden by a new US administration determined to deny and hide the science of Climate Change.

What You Need to Know About Renewable Diesel

Government Fleet's well-reseached overview of RenD benefits and weakness, costs, etc.

Biofuels from Used Tires Thanks to Dept. of Energy

Using a novel, reusable carbon material derived from old rubber tires, an Oak Ridge National Laboratory-led research team has developed a simple method to convert used truck tires into biofuel.

CHEMISTS FIND NEW METHOD TO RECYCLE COMMON PLASTICS INTO BIOFUEL

Continuing to expand the waste-to-fuel paradigms, chemists at a Chinese and California university have shown how common hydrocarbon-based plastics can be economically converted to biofuel, as reported in Science magazine.

FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES ARE A STAGGERING $5 TRILLION PER YEAR

Much of the costs of fossil fuels are hidden.  The British Guardian newspaper reports on research from World Development journal that estimated that in 2016 the fossil fuel industry worldwide received $5.8 TRILLION in direct and indirect subsidies. After being in business over 100 years and making countless millionaires and many billionaires, one would think that it is time to instead support new fuels such as Renewable Diesel and Renewable Aviation Fuel that meet our needs so much better in this age of climate change.

CO2 PHOTOSYNTHESIZED TO PRODUCE FUELS AND ALCOHOLS AT LBL

Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are utilizing a photosynthetic process to use carbon dioxide to produce fuels and alcohols, and doing so more efficiently than plants do.

LOW CARBON FUEL FEEDSTOCKS

Ensyn-provided primer on refinery feedstocks suitable for Renewable diesel, gasoline and aviation fuels.

Government Fleet magazine reports on the city of oakland's experience with renewable diesel in their fleet

''At first, renewable diesel seemed like a ‘too good to be true’ cost-neutral way to achieve our goals.  But renewable diesel gives you the ability to convert your entire diesel-­powered fleet to alternative fuel overnight,' said Richard Battersby, CAFM, CPFP, manager of equipment services for the city. 'When the product became available through a local supplier at a very competitive cost, it was an easy decision to make.''