U.S. will have largest biodiesel market by 2012, research group says

The U.S. is positioned to become the single largest biodiesel market, with 19 percent of consumption by 2012, according to a new report.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based SRI Consulting says the industry grew 50 percent from 2002 to 2007 -- the highest growth in the chemical industry -- and is poised to grow at 30 percent between 2007 and 2012.

SRI projects a slower pace of growth for the global biodiesel industry due to market uncertainties such as the ongoing fuels versus food debate, rising raw material costs, changing regulatory environment, a slowing global economy and the current financial crisis.

"An important development over the last several years has been the shift in global biodiesel patterns. Only five years ago Europe was a dominant player, with 83 percent of capacity. By 2007 the European share had declined to about 46 percent as North America and Asia grew to 23 percent and 19 percent respectively," SRI says.

SRI is a business research service for the global chemical industry.

Biodiesel gains foothold: Partners plan to sell to local fleets

A side project between two Guam businessmen could reduce Guam's use of fossil fuels in some of the areas they're used most. Their endeavor not only protects the environment, it can cut companies' fuel costs.

Richard Kempski, general manager of Lucky One Pumping Service, and Allen Turner, senior associate with Taniguchi Ruth Makio Architects, have been perfecting the process of manufacturing biodiesel fuel from regular used cooking oil since 2001.

Kempski said Lucky One's fleet of diesel-fueled trucks uses the alternative fuel, which means the company can save on buying regular diesel. As efforts have begun to ramp up, the outfit is planning to approach bulk fuel users, such as tour operators and construction companies, to become potential customers next year.

The duo said they've been certified to handle and process the oil waste so it can safely be used in a way that meets industry standards.

Turner said the duo currently produces about 40 gallons of the fuel daily. They hope to increase output to around 60 gallons per day, and finally 120 gallons daily before marketing the fuel.

"I just want to make sure there aren't any bugs in the 60 gallons first," Turner said. "We don't want to create demand and then be unable to meet it."

Biodiesel, when used in a vehicle, burns cleaner, emitting fewer toxins in the environment. It also provides better lubrication than other popular alternative fuels, Turner said.

Biodiesel fuel also acts as a solvent, cleaning much of the substances left in a vehicle's fuel system after regular diesel use. Turner said using a 20-to-80 ratio mix of biodiesel and regular diesel will bring a vehicle's emissions within federal Environmental Protection Agency standards.

"I didn't get into this because I'm a big environmentalist," Turner said. "I'm interested in it, it's a challenge. We're just solving a problem."

Green idea

The effort began as Kempski wished to expand Lucky One's services to accommodate used cooking oil they collect from their customers. Not knowing what to do with the excess material, he was contemplating sending it off island.

He said Turner -- a friend of his -- came up with the idea of using the oil waste through some research he was doing.

"It was a must, actually," Kempski said. "I wanted to get more customers by adding additional services."

He said his largest customer for used oil pickup are the KFC restaurants.

Lucky One currently charges customers for used oil pickup and uses those fees to further fund research on how to more efficiently process the fuel. Turner said he hopes to bring down the pick-up fee as the conversion process becomes more efficient.

He said the more cooking oil available to convert to biodiesel, the cheaper the process, though he doubts there is enough used oil on island to allow for the fuel to be much cheaper than current diesel prices. He said the most costly facets of the operation are labor and the purchase of methanol, the price of which has doubled since the endeavor began.

The process puts the oil waste through a series of "washes" after which it is mixed with both sodium hydroxide and later methanol oxide. The process yields biodiesel fuel and glycerol as a byproduct, which the men said they can use to make soap.

Travis Kloppenburg, general manager for Turtle Tours, said his company would surely consider any viable alternative to diesel fuel in running its fleet of tour buses throughout the island.

"Anything alternative is an interest with gasoline prices where they are right now," he said with the understanding that switching to biodiesel fuel may require the vehicle's engine to adjust to the foreign material. "It takes some time for your engine to acquire the taste for it."

Turner said those adopting the use of biodiesel will have to change the vehicle's fuel filter more often -- due to its cleansing properties that free much of the residue from the fuel tank walls and release it into the fuel system.

"You can basically burn a cleaner fuel, which is better for your engine at no extra cost," Turner said.

University to showcase cutting edge environmental research

The global problem of climate change will hit the spotlight on Wednesday 17 September as researchers from across the region meet for a showcase on environmental sustainability. Experts in engineering, chemistry, architecture, physics and economics will join forces at the University of Bath to discuss the climate change challenge. They will also host an exhibition of some of the region's cutting edge research in the fields of sustainable energy and the environment.

The global problem of climate change will hit the spotlight on Wednesday 17 September as researchers from across the region meet for a showcase on environmental sustainability.
Experts in engineering, chemistry, architecture, physics and economics will join forces at the University of Bath to discuss the climate change challenge. They will also host an exhibition of some of the region’s cutting edge research in the fields of sustainable energy and the environment.
Wednesday's event will see the launch of the new Institute for Sustainable Energy & the Environment ( I-SEE ) by David Willetts MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills.
Mitigating the effects of climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing science today due to the complex nature of the problem. The University of Bath based I-SEE will combine the expertise of world-class researchers from diverse disciplines of science, engineering, economics, management and social science to address the problem.
It will also study the socio-economic impacts of climate change, inform policy and provide technological solutions to mitigate the effects of global warming, helping the UK to achieve its target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.
Some of the institute’s ground-breaking research will feature at the showcase.
Key research areas of the exhibition include:
Future sources of energy including improved energyEnergy efficiency and demand reduction including low carbon building materials such as hemp and straw, biodiesel from microalgae, and low carbon transportation.The economics of climate change including green taxes, subsidies for renewable energy and environmental sustainability.Social psychology of environmental issues, environmental ethics and promoting behavioural change.The showcase will be opened by David Willetts MP and will be attended by industrialists, research councils, local and national government representatives and other key stakeholders from across the South West.
The research showcase exhibition will take place in the Founders Hall at the University.
Professor Jane Millar AcSS OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University, said: “We are delighted the University is hosting such an important event which draws together some of the leading experts on environmental sustainability from across the region.
“Climate change is something that affects us all and so developing sustainable energy sources is a key research challenge.”