Bio Fuel Choices

Solar May Not Be BioFuel But Its U Can Recharge In NY Now

2010-10-23T04:19:00.000-04:00

According to a recent press release, a sustainable energy company called Beautiful Earth Group just unveiled this containerized electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Red Hook, Brooklyn. With a soaring array of photovoltaic panels, the BMW Mini E pictured runs exclusively on fresh, green power generated by the off-grid, modular station. You’ll note that the station just so happens to be built with recycled shipping containers, too.

Photo credits: Beautiful Earth; first noticed at Inhabitat.
first noticed by me at http://www.jetsongreen.com/2009/12/container-solar-charging-station-in-ny.html?

Homemade BioDiesel

2010-01-06T02:54:00.003-05:00

Homemade Biodiesel is another great way to make use of otherwise wasted materials. Most people had absolutely no good use for left over, used vegetable oil until now. In fact, in Britain improper disposal of used vegetable oil had become such a serious issue, that many have begun reusing it to create fuel. The drains and pipes of Britain are thanking them by working much more efficiently.
Imagine trying to operate a business during difficult financial times. Watching the expense budget grow, while the profit margin shrinks. It is not bad enough to have to throw away used oil, but to half to pay to do it has got to be more than a bit frustrating. Not a pleasant experience. And no longer a problem.
Not so anymore. Used cooking oil can be stored in whatever size is required to accommodate it, for later use as fuel. Some high volume restaurant owners may never need to pay to fuel their automobile again. Some will also save a great deal of money heating their homes.
It is important to understand that bio-diesel is an alternative to traditional diesel fuel. If you do not currently own a diesel engine vehicle, it may be time to consider purchasing one. Neither diesel, nor bio-diesel fuel are appropriate for a ”regular” engine automobile.
You may also use this newly created fuel for home heating. Imagine the money that will be saved when not needing fossil fuel. Not to mention the work that you will be doing to help the environment.
This fuel is indeed the way of the future. And there are many simple recipes available. It is however important to exercise caution, as some strong chemicals will be used. However the creation of homemade biodiesel is quite simple, and can be done by just about anyone.
Did you know that there is homemade biodiesel? That’s right, you can make biodiesel at home and the Internet is the best place to learn how to go about doing it.

On a semi related note: Here in Frederick Maryland, the average windspeed for the past 2 weeks has been MORE than enough to power those silly, huge, too expensive, 3 bladed wind turbines that we should have but don't...
I want a HOME wind powered generator, there's a creative inventor right down the street from where I live that sells 11 bladed, 14 ft long small wind energy systems for under $30,000
I want one!

Weedkiller Plus Carbs Equals Energy

2009-12-31T02:24:00.000-05:00

Sugar And Weed Killer Equals Potential Clean Energy Source (redOrbit)

September 29, 2009, 4:38 pm

A spoonful of herbicide helps the sugar break down in a most delightful way.Researchers at Brigham Young University have developed a fuel cell – basically a battery with a gas tank – that harvests electricity from glucose and other sugars known as carbohydrates.The human body’s preferred energy source could someday power our gadgets, cars or homes.“Carbohydrates are very energy rich,” said BYU chemistry professor Gerald Watt.

Biofuels Expert Speaks at European Biodiesel Conference

2009-09-25T21:12:00.000-04:00

(I-Newswire) September 25, 2009 - Dr. Peter Reimers, President and CEO of Arisdyne Systems, Inc., participated in a panel discussion on “Current Challenges and Opportunities for the European Biodiesel Producer” at the European Biodiesel Conference 2009, held in Prague, Czech Republic. The panel was designed to help European Biodiesel Producers maximize their growth and profits, and also featured Granville Smith, CEO of Al Tayyar Energy and Paul Keurinck, Director of Biocar.

“Biodiesel in the European market is a very competitive industry,” said Peter Reimers, CEO and President of Arisdyne Systems. “This panel was designed to help producers learn how to minimize costs, maximize results, and thrive in the growing European biodiesel market.”

Organized by Active Communications International, the European Biodiesel Conference brought together experts from companies all over Europe and throughout the rest of the world to discover, consider and discuss the latest strategies and technological advances in the biodiesel industry. The conference took place 16-17 September and also featured discussions of biodiesel quality, market opportunities, feedstock options, and the global biofuels and bioenergy market.

Dr. Reimers joined Arisdyne in August of 2008, following more than 10 years in the biofuels and alternative energy industry. His global business background includes extensive experience in process design & operations, global feedstock and fuel markets, strategic planning, commodity trading, and project management with a focus on biotechnology.

Prior to joining Arisdyne, Reimers worked for Archer Daniels Midland for more than 10 years, overseeing biodiesel operations in the European Union and in the United States. Most recently, he was the managing director of long-term technology strategy in which he was responsible for evaluating investment options for a new research and development center focusing on bioenergy technologies.

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Is BioFuel Expensive?
Biofuel is receiving international attention as a possible alternative to our current fossil fuel usage, but many people don’t realize what biofuel is made from. Biofuel is derived from plant products and can be used in any combustible engine. However, the process as it stands right now is not as effective as it could be, which leads to higher production costs, and in turn, higher costs at the pump. Since producing biofuel is extremely expensive and time consuming, it isn’t considered a viable alternative to our fossil fuel usage, yet.

Biofuels can be either liquid or solid, and come from many different plant sources such as vegetable oil, sugar cane, or even soy and corn products. In fact, in the United States alone, many corn and soy crops which are grown are not grown for human consumption, but for the production of biofuel.

Most all of the commercial biofuel which is found on the market today is not 100% pure biofuel. It is generally mixed with around 15% regular gasoline so the fuel will still work in our modern engines. Because we cannot yet use 100% biofuel in our engines, and because the biofuel production process is so expensive and costly, researchers are working on ways to develop biofuel into a renewable energy source which could break through the barrier of cost versus efficiency.
read more...

Port of Wilmington, North Carolina is switching to B20 biodiesel:

2009-07-26T04:30:00.002-04:00

North Carolina Port Running on Biodiesel

Posted by EcoFriendly

Jul 25

North Carolina Port Running on Biodiesel

One of the biggest ports on the East Coast of the United States is now handling freight with a cleaner option: biodiesel.

The StarNewsOnline says the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina is switching to B20 biodiesel:

The new fuel system systems in Wilmington and the Port of Morehead City will replace existing diesel storage tanks and systems that are approaching the end of their useful life, ports spokeswoman Karen Fox said.

The Ports Authority said two biodiesel tanks – holding 20,000 and 10,000 gallons of fuel – will be installed at the Port of Wilmington by Jones and Frank Corp. of Raleigh. One 10,000-gallon tank will be installed at Morehead City.

The Ports Authority received a $104,000 North Carolina Clean Air grant to cover about half the costs of the transition.

More coming soon

Hybrid Runs on Anything?

2009-06-29T19:08:00.004-04:00

Dean Kamen developing eco hybrid that will run on anything that burns

Dean Kamen – the multimillionaire inventor behind the Segway personal transporter – is well down the road in the development of a new bike that combines electric power and a radical generator which will allow it to burn almost any fuel. Although the majority of the work that goes on in Kamen's product development company, Deka, is shrouded in mystery, as it includes significant projects for the US military, details are emerging about Kamen's new two-wheeler, which is part of a project that also includes a car designed around the same technology. Read More

May 26th, 2009

Hydrogen fuel cell cars hit the road. GM hits panic button.

Posted by Harry Fuller @ 10:16 pm

An eighteen hundred mile demo tour has begun. Hydrogen powered cars will wend across North America for days, having left from Chula Vista today. The run ends June 3 in Vancouver. Here’s the official website for Hydrogen Road Tour 2009. The site includes a map of the route up the Pacific Coast and even GPS real-time tracking.

Among the car manufacturers participating is Daimler. A-Class F-CELL is the designation Daimler gives to the thirty cars now operating in Michigan and California. These vehicles were launched in 2004. Daimler is expecting to launch next generation B-Class fuel cell cars soon.
The Daimler F-Cell.
Other fuel cell cars in the caravan were made by GM, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, Nissan, Toyota and VW. GM, of course, is about to declare bankruptcy. VW meanwhile is going to work with a Chinese battery company partially owned by Warren Buffett. VW’s interested in building more electric and hybrid vehicles. And VW is NOT in any apparent danger of going bankrupt as it is partially owned by a German state government.

Hybrid Cars

2009-02-11T00:34:00.001-05:00

Buying an eco car nowadays is all about making a statement to everyone. You are telling everyone that you are concerned about the atmosphere and you are doing your part in saving the world. Buying an eco car and driving it around tells everyone that you are being a responsible human being and a responsible inhabitant of the earth. Buy an eco car today and feel the power of green.

Eco cars come in different types nowadays. The most common eco car that you will find today is the hybrid. The hybrid is basically a car that can run on fuel and hydrogen. This is the kind of car that symbolizes the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. If you want to take a step forward right now but you are not fully ready to give up your addiction to gasoline then these hybrid cars are the way to go. Both Toyota and Honda are leading the way in this department.

Other eco cars that are out there utilize bio fuels. These bio fuelled vehicles are not yet so popular. Solar powered cars are also taking the stage although they are mostly used in competitions and exhibits now. Will there be a commercially available solar car for consumers soon? This is something to look forward to although you never know. These things may not be too far out in the future. You may be driving a solar powered car in the next ten years or so.

If you do not care about the environment and you want the atmosphere to be destroyed then continue burning fossil fuels like there is no tomorrow. Think about the way you consume things. Think about the way you consume gasoline. Think about the way you live. Think about the future. Now is the time for making a change. Now is the time to buy these eco cars. You want to leave a better tomorrow for your children. You want them to breathe peacefully and live in harmony. Eco cars are the way to go.

http://www.articletogo.com/articledetail.php?artid=12815&catid=232

Three ways of creating biodiesel

2008-11-24T05:48:00.001-05:00

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

1. Mixing it

Vegetable oil is much more viscous (thicker) than either petro-diesel or biodiesel. The purpose of mixing straight vegetable oil (SVO) or blending it with other fuels and solvents is to lower the viscosity to make it thinner so that it flows more freely through the fuel system into the combustion chamber.

If you're mixing SVO with petro-diesel or kerosene you're still using fossil-fuel -- cleaner than most, but still not clean enough, many would say. Still, for every gallon of SVO you use, that's one gallon of fossil-fuel saved, and that much less climate-changing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

People use various mixes, ranging from 10% SVO and 90% petro-diesel to 90% SVO and 10% petro-diesel. Some people just use it that way, start up and go, without pre-heating it (which makes veg-oil much thinner). Some even use pure vegetable oil without pre-heating it.

You might get away with it in summer time with something like an older '80s Mercedes 5-cylinder IDI diesel, which is a very tough and tolerant motor -- it won't like it but you probably won't wreck it. Otherwise, it's not wise.

To do it properly you'll need what amounts to a proper SVO system with fuel pre-heating. (See next.) In which case there's no need for mixes.

Blends of SVO with various solvents, magical "secret" ingredients (turpentine, mothballs, paint-stripper) or with unleaded gasoline are "experimental at best" -- little or nothing is known about their effects on the combustion characteristics of the fuel or their long-term effects on the engine. Not recommended -- use such blends at your own risk.

Higher viscosity is not the only problem with using vegetable oil as fuel. Veg-oil has different chemical properties and combustion characteristics from the petro-diesel fuel that diesel engines and their fuel systems are designed to use. Diesel engines, especially the more modern, cleaner-burning diesels, are high-tech machines with precise fuel requirements (see The TDI-SVO controversy). They're tough but they'll only take so much abuse.

There's no guarantee of it, but using a blend of up to 20% veg-oil of good quality with 80% petro-diesel is said to be safe enough for older diesels, especially in summer. Otherwise using veg-oil as fuel requires a professional SVO solution -- or convert it biodiesel.

Mixes and blends are generally a poor compromise. But mixes can have one advantage in cold weather. As with biodiesel, some kerosene or winterised petro-diesel mixed with straight vegetable oil lowers the temperature at which the SVO starts to gel. (See Using biodiesel in winter)

More about fuel mixing and blends.