What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is…

Biodiesel is a clean-burning, domestically-produced diesel fuel, derived from 100% renewable resources like soybeans, canola and mustard seed.

Biodiesel can be used in any conventional diesel engine either in pure form or in a blend of any proportion with petroleum diesel. Biodiesel delivers equivalent engine performance while substantially decreasing harmful emissions.

From Farm to Fuel

Made primarily from virgin oils grown in the USA—biodiesel is better for the environment and both grown and refined domestically.

Biodiesel is powered by the sun. Farm-grown oil seed crops provide many products to global consumers including food products for humans and animals, glycerin for cosmetics, and oil for cooking. Biodiesel is one product of an agricultural crop’s output and can be used to create a clean-burning fuel from renewable resources.

Emissions

By using biodiesel instead of petroleum diesel, you can decrease your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80 percent.

• Biodiesel also substantially reduces particulate emissions and PAH air toxins (including benzene) that are hazardous to human health.
• Biodiesel production and use exhibits a “closed-loop carbon cycle.” Unlike petro-diesel, which releases greenhouse gases contained (or sequestered) deep beneath the earth, the emissions released by using biodiesel are equivalent to the amount absorbed by the plant during its growth.
• Biodiesel is the first and only alternative fuel to have a complete evaluation of emission results and potential health effects submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act.

Better for People and the Planet

See how pure biodiesel (B100) and biodiesel blend (B20) compare to conventional petroleum diesel in keeping our air breathable:

Information supplied by National Biodiesel Board.

* Biodiesel’s NOx emissions are the focus of current research, and NOx contributions to smog are being reconsidered by the scientific community. Based upon recently published results, former findings of NOx increases with biodiesel may not be accurate. The most recent research on the subject shows equal or decreased NOx emissions compared to diesel. For the most current findings on biodiesel NOx emissions see the August 2005 NREL Study.

Want to know more about emissions? Check out the EPA report online:

• A Comprehensive Analysis of Biodiesel Impacts on Exhaust Emissions

Energy Balance

Biodiesel yields more energy than is used in its production: 220% more! This includes all the energy used to grow it, make it, transport it and distribute it.

More Power to Its Punch

The difference between how much energy is created when producing these top four fuel sources:

Joint study by U.S. Dept of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA), 1998.

Alternative Vehicle Comparison

There are quite a few vehicles available today as prototypes and production vehicles that run on various fuels. Ever wonder how they compare?

Compare What’s on the Road

Check out the difference in fossil fuel input required to drive various vehicles that are available today.

Source: UNH Biodiesel Group