Run your current vehicle on biodiesel
As part of the government's drive to meet it's legally binding commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-
2012), they are actively promoting the production and use of renewable fuel sources. As part of that drive, targets for transport biofuels are set at 5.75% of fuel sales by 2010. Oil from industrial oilseed like rapeseed, which is grown as a crop, and even recycled waste from catering like chip oil are used to produce the diesel alternative biodiesel; whilst cereals, sugar beet and fodder beet are used to produce the petrol additive/substitute bioethanol.
Biodiesel is considered to be an excellent diesel alternative because it is carbon neutral. Roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the environment during crop growth as produced when it is burnt in a diesel engine. This is environmentally friendly by virtue of these two cycles cancelling each other out, and even more so if waste catering oil is used instead of the usual disposal in landfill. Using normal diesel produces harmful pollutants in addition to high levels of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), such as carbon monoxide, particulates (particles of soot), unburned hydrocarbons, sulphur (causes acid rain), and volatile organic compounds. Whether you use pure or blended; biodiesel produces significantly lower levels of all these harmful emissions (sulphur emissions being virtually eliminated).
The level of emissions is dependant on the blend. Straight vegetable oil (SVO) and pure biodiesel (B100) gives the greatest reduction. Biodiesel is SVO or waste oil that has been chemically or physically altered to refine it usually for commercial sale. Mostly however, it is combined with regular diesel (for reasons of engine compatibility and operating temperature specifications) so B5 means it is blended with 5% biodiesel, B10 with 10%, B20 with 20% and so on. Even these lower levels of blend can significantly reduce emissions.
If you are interested in converting your diesel car to run on SVO or biodiesel, you should first check that you vehicle is suitable. Depending on the make, model and age of your vehicle, and the blend of fuel you choose to run, you may need to make some relatively simple modifications, for example adding a heated fuel filter to reduce the build up of residue in the fuel lines, changing the fuel pump to a compatible type, or replacing rubber hoses with non-degradeable hoses.
If your vehicle is still under either manufacturers or other form of warranty you should confirm that it will not be invalidated as a result of any modification or by using biodiesel, although cover is increasingly given for blends up to 20% (B20). Your insurer may have exclusions for biodiesel use, so it is advisable to check with them as well. If you are using SVO you will need to call HM Revenue & Customs to check current rules and rates of excise duty, as self-declaration of mileage and payment of tax on the oil used is necessary.
As ever, there are some downsides to using biodiesel, amongst them:
- There are costs associated with modification that vary according to your car type, although these can be relatively inexpensive.
- Manufacture of biofuels is still more expensive than petro-diesel, but it is reasonable to expect costs to come down with large-scale production and a growing market.
- Biodiesel is not yet widely available, although the government are promoting a number of schemes and grants through DEFRA to support production and so encourage supply.
Whilst there are many evangelists for biofuels (there is a whole exhibition dedicated to the subject this autumn), there is also some scepticism about the carbon neutral status of it's use because of questionmarks over the precise measurement of carbon absorbed during the crop growth phase.
More worryingly, there is apparently evidence that countries like Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia who see the biofuel industry as the next potential gold rush are destroying much greater stores of carbon than can be saved by large-scale adoption of Biofuels. Large areas of rain forest are being felled and replaced with sugar cane and palm trees (for palm oil) to meet rising demand from the fuel- and emissions-conscious developed countries (see link below). This is offset by responsible, sustainable agriculture in other poor countires where biofuel crops can be grown on non-arable, marginal and waste land to give local communities access to these valuable cash crops.
A selection of links for further reading:
Environment Agency - making biodiesel
DEFRA - information and grants
HM Revenue & Customs - biodiesel duty
George Monbiot - Worse then Fossil Fuel
Bio-Power UK
Veg oil motoring