Biodiesel - The Sustainable Dimension

8/16/2019 Biodiesel - The Sustainable Dimension

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A Publication of ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org

ATTRA—National Sustainable

Agriculture Information Service

(www.attra.ncat.org) is managed

by the National Center for Appro-

priate Technology (NCAT) and is

funded under a grant from the

United States Department of

Agriculture’s Rural Business-

Cooperative Service. Visit the

NCAT Web site (www.ncat.org/

sarc_current.php) for

more information on

our sustainable agri-

culture projects.

Contents

By Al Kurki,Amanda Hill and

Mike Morris, NCAT

Program Specialists

Updated by

Amanda Lowe,

NCAT Intern

© 2010 NCAT

Biodiesel:The Sustainability Dimensions

Introduction ..................... 1

Background andcontext ............................... 2

Qualities and quantitiesof biodiesel andbiodiesel feedstocks ..... 3

Conclusion ........................ 9

References ...................... 10

Further resources ......... 10

Biodiesel is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. This publication surveys many dimensionsof biodiesel production and use. Net energy balance, sustainable bioenergy crops, scale of production,

consumer access and the economics of biodiesel are all critical when discussing a sustainable energy

future for this country. Above all, increased fuel efficiency and possibly increased diesel engine use in the

United States will be needed in order for biodiesel to become a significant part of our energy future.

Sunflowers. Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.

Introduction

Biodiesel offers well-publicized envi-ronmental, economic and nationalsecurity benefits. Biodiesel combus-

tion emits fewer regulated and non-regulatedpollutants than petrodiesel. Further, biodie-sel is biodegradable and its lubricity extendsengine life.

Biodiesel could benefit farmers and ruralcommunities, depending on ownershipof production facilities and the mix andmarketability of useful co-products. Also,biodiesel could reduce dependence on for-eign oil and corresponding fluctuationsin availability and price. Tis publicationaddresses the sustainability dimensionsof biodiesel production and use. hese

dimensions include the net energy balanceof biodiesel relative to other fuels and thelink between raising bioenergy crops andsustainable, soil-building practices. Otherconsiderations include the qualities of dif-ferent biodiesel feedstocks and the econom-ics of production and use. Tis publicationalso raises other issues, such as access, scaleand ownership of production, co-prod-uct development and the extent to whichbiodiesel and other biofuels can effectivelyreplace petroleum fuels.

All dimensions of biodiesel productionand use are fundamentally intertwined with each other and with the topic of envi-ronmental sustainability. o isolate andaddress any single aspect of biodiesel invitesreference to others.


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Page 2 ATTRA Biodiesel: The Sustainability Dimensions

Related ATTRAPublications

Background and context

The bigger picture

he United States consumes transporta-tion fuels at an extremely high rate percapita compared with other industrializedcountries. In 2005, for example, 559 gal-lons of petroleum transportation fuels wereexpended for every man, woman and childin this country, compared with 429 gal-lons per capita in Canada, 184 gallons inGermany and 182 gallons in Japan (Earthrends, 2009).

wo major policy and practical changesmust occur for biodiesel to have a real effecton this country’s energy future:

1) A nationa l commitment to energyeffi ciency in every facet of American life. Tis may include community redesign, broadchanges in food production and delivery sys-tems, greater commitment to mass transitand increased mileage effi ciency for vehicles.Reducing our fuel consumption would meanbiofuels over time would make up a larger

portion of overall transportation fuel.2) A massive conversion from gasoline-powered automobiles and light trucks tocleaner-burning diesel automobiles. Tissort of change is not without precedent.Farmers in the United States switched fromgasoline to diesel-powered farm equipmentin the late 1970s and 80s. Tis is an impor-tant factor in agriculture’s big energy-usereduction since the 1970s.

Most farmers and ranchers operate on tightmargins. Capturing energy effi ciencies andmaking the best use of biofuels may benearly impossible without retooling cur-rent food production and distribution sys-tems. For example, when food is shippedover shorter distances, energy consumptionand freight costs are reduced. Creating localmarkets for locally grown foods can accom-plish this. Rotating nitrogen-producing or

phosphorous-availing crops with cash cropscan save energy on the farm. Changing till-age methods or technologies and properlyscaling equipment to the farm operationcan also save energy. Tese changes may beimportant precursors to the cost-effectiveproduction and use of biodiesel.

Biodiesel as a transportation fuel Simply put, biodiesel is the product of mix-ing vegetable oil or animal fat with alcohol(usually methanol or ethanol) and a catalyst,usually lye. Glycerin is the main by-product.

Biodiesel performs very similarly to low-sulfur petroleum-based diesel in terms ofpower, torque and fuel effi ciency, and doesnot require major engine modifications.

Joshua ickell, the author of several bookson biodiesel, claims biodiesel contains about12 percent less energy than petrodiesel(biodiesel has 37 megajoules per kilogramversus petrodiesel at 42 megajoules per kilo-gram). Tis difference is partially offset bya 7-percent average increase in combustioneffi ciency of biodiesel. No overall perceiveddecrease in performance is noted for mostvehicles using biodiesel, even though, onaverage, there is 5 percent less torque, powerand fuel effi ciency (ickell, 2000).

Biodiesel is considered a safer fuel than pet-rodiesel. Biodiesel has a high flashpoint ofover 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degreesCelsius), compared to 125 degrees F (52degrees C) for petrodiesel. Te flashpointis the temperature at which a fuel’s vaporcan be ignited. Biodiesel also has a relativelyhigh boiling point and is generally consid-ered safer to handle.

Modern diesel fuels are injected into a highlycompressed chamber where combustion

occurs without a spark plug. Biodiesel reactsmore rapidly in the chamber with less com-bustion delay than most petrodiesel fuels andis, therefore, assigned a higher cetane num-ber. Cetane is the measure of ignition qual-ity. Many of biodiesel’s emission benefits stemfrom its high ignition quality (NBB, 2009).

Biodiesel can be produced from virtually anykind of vegetable oil, new or used. Te U.S.

Biodiesel: Do-it-your-self Production Basics

Biodiesel Use,

Handling and Fuel

Quality

Biodiesel Curriculum

(from Piedmont

Biofuels)

Oilseed Processing for

Small-Scale Producers

Effi cient AgriculturalBuildings: An

Overview

Solar-Powered

Livestock Watering

Systems

Wind-powered

Electric Systems for

Homes, Farms, and

Ranches: Resources

Sustainable Corn and

Soybean Production

Biodiesel is vegetable oil that is permanently

thinned through a chemical reaction of the oil,

alcohol and a catalyst.


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Page 3 ATTRA www.attra.ncat.org

A

t cold

temperatures,

diesel fuelsform wax crystals

that cloud the

product and affect

fuel performance.

This temperature

threshold is called

the cloud point.

Department of Energy estimates that about450 million gallons of biodiesel were sold in2007. otal U.S. diesel consumption thatyear was more than 45.3 billion gallons.

Qualities and quantities

of biodiesel andbiodiesel feedstocks

At cold temperatures, diesel fuels form waxcrystals that cloud the product and affectfuel performance. Tis temperature thresh-old is called the cloud point, and occurs at 20degrees F (-7 degrees C) for most commonlyused grades of petrodiesel. Biodiesel fuelsgenerally have a cloud point between 25-60degrees F (4- 16 degrees C), depending onthe amount of FFAs in the product. Wastevegetable oil contains more FFAs than virginoils. FFAs raise the cloud point of the fuel,so biodiesel made from used cooking oil oranimal fat will cloud at higher temperaturesthan biodiesel made from new vegetableoil feedstock.

Te American Society for esting and Mate-rials (ASM) recommended in 1996 thatbiodiesel have a cloud point of at most 38

degrees F. Te cloud point can be lowered with winterizing additives formulated for dieselfuels. Biodiesel blends such as B20 (20 percentbiodiesel and 80 percent petrodiesel) typicallyrequire no action beyond that necessary forordinary petrodiesel (ickell, 2000).

Te United States produces approximately 3-5 billion gallons of waste vegetable oil every

year in restaurants (Groschen). Much ofthis product goes to landfills; some is usedin the soap and cosmetics industry. Wastecooking oil could meet only a small percent-age of total U.S. diesel demand. Convertingthis waste into a relatively low-cost resource,however, reduces the environmental degra-dation and costs of disposal in landfills.

he quantity of biodiesel that can be pro-duced from crops is also limited. If rapeseed were grown on every acre of cropland available

in the United States in 2002, an estimated36.3 billion gallons of oil could be produced— fairly close to current national demand(Peterson). But it is not practical to use allavailable farmland to produce transportationfuels. Moreover, very serious ethical issues areraised by sacrificing croplands for vehicle fuelin a world where people are hungry and pop-ulations are growing. For a discussion of thefood versus fuel controversy, see the Web sitewww.journeytoforever.org.

Soybean oil is a common virgin feedstock for biodiesel.

Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.

The chemistry of biodiesel

Transesterification is the term used to describe

the transformation of vegetable oil into

biodiesel. Vegetable oil is made up of three

esters attached to a glycerin molecule; this is

called a triglyceride. An ester is a hydrocarbon

chain available to bond with another mole-

cule. During transesterification, the esters in

vegetable oil are separated from the glycerinmolecule, resulting in the by-product glycerin.

The esters then attach to alcohol molecules

(either methanol or ethanol) to form biodiesel.

In order to prompt the esters to break from

the glycerin and bond with the alcohol, a cata-

lyst (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydrox-ide) must be used. The glycerin by-product

can be further processed to make soap.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are present in vegetable

oil when it has been used in cooking. When

free fatty acids are present, as in waste veg-

etable oil, more base catalyst is required toneutralize the FFAs, which renders the biodie-

sel fit for use. (Adapted from Tickell, 2000)


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Ninety percent of the biodiesel virgin oilfeedstock in the United States in 2001 wasfrom soybeans. Tere are many reasons whysoybeans draw most of the market share as abiodiesel feedstock. Soy is a versatile, nitro-gen-fixing crop that yields oil and food forhumans and livestock. Soybean meal is ofa higher market value than soy oil. Conse-

quently, soy oil is a low-priced by-productavailable in relatively large volumes.

Soybean production is subsidized by the fed-eral government and benefits from subsidizedcrop insurance plans. Currently, soy oil is acheaper virgin feedstock than other oilseeds.Te processing and distribution infrastruc-ture for soybeans is already in place, withmore capacity being added as more biodieselproduction facilities come online.

However, the list of the top 30 plant species with the highest oil yield per acre for biodieseldoesn’t even include soybeans. Of the morecommon commodity-style crops that can beraised for biofuels in this country, soy ranksas only the eighth-best oil-yielding crop.

his may be good news for farmers whodon’t or can’t grow soybeans on their farms.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) rates as the high-est- yielding oil source in this country at 122gallons an acre. Sunflower has the third-bestyield at 98 gallons an acre, followed by saf-flower (80 gallons an acre) at fourth andmustard rated seventh (59 gallons an acre).Table 1 shows the oil yields in gallons peracre. One gallon of oil equals 7.3 pounds(USDOE, 2005). Please keep in mind asyou examine this table that the yields willvary in different agroclimatic zones.

Table 1: Oil producing crops (Adapted from Tickell, 2000)

Plant Latin NameGal Oil/

Acre PlantLatin Name

Gal Oil/ Acre

Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis 610 Rice Oriza sativa L. 85

Macauba Palm Acrocomia aculeata 461 Buffalo Gourd Cucurbita foetidissima 81

Pequi Caryocar brasiliense 383 Saffl ower Carthamus tinctorius 80

Buriti Palm Mauritia flexuosa 335 Crambe Crambe abyssinica 72

Oiticia Licania rigida 307 Sesame Sesamum indicum 71

Coconut Cocos nucifera 276 Camelina Camelina sativa 60

Avocado Persea americana 270 Mustard Brassica alba 59Brazil Nut Bertholletia excelsa 245 Coriander Coriandrum sativum 55

Macadamia Nut Macadamia terniflora 230 Pumpkin Seed Cucurbita pepo 55

Jatropa Jatropha curcas 194 Euphorbia Euphorbia lagascae 54

Babassu Palm Orbignya martiana 188 Hazelnut Corylus avellana 49

Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 186 Linseed Linum usitatissimum 49

Pecan Carya illinoensis 183 Coffee Coffea arabica 47

Bacuri Platonia insignis 146 Soybean Glycine max 46

Castor Bean Ricinus communis 145 Hemp Cannabis sativa 37

Gopher Plant Euphorbia lathyris 137 Cotton Gossypium hirsutum 33

Piassava Attalea funifera 136 Calendula Calendula offi cinalis 31

Olive Tree Olea europaea 124 Kenaf Hibiscus cannabinus L. 28

Rapeseed Brassica napus 122 Rubber Seed Hevea brasiliensis 26

Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum 119 Lupine Lupinus albus 24

Peanut Ariachis hypogaea 109 Palm Erythea salvadorensis 23

Cocoa Theobroma cacao 105 Oat Avena sativa 22

Sunflower Helianthus annuus 98 Cashew Nut Anacardium occidentale 18

Tung Oil Tree Aleurites fordii 96 Corn Zea mays 18


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Higher-yielding oil crops like safflower,mustards and sunf lower have significantrotational benefits. For example, deepsafflower and sunflower roots help breakup hardpan and improve soil tilth. Canolaand rapeseed can make soil nutrients

available for succeeding years’ crops.Oil-yielding brassicas such as mustards,canola and rapeseed help reduce soil-borne diseases and pathogens. Table 2 shows the rotational benefits of certainoilseed crops.

Oil Seed CropYield (GalOil/ Acre)

Rotational BenefitsManagement

Practices

Rapeseed/Canola 122 Both are cool season crops. Attract hoverflies whose larvae preyon aphids. Has value as green manure because it makes phos-phorus available for subsequent year’s crops and initial researchshows it inhibits growth of small weed seeds. Can serve as anutrient catch crop. Provides weed control at high seeding rates.Canola is edible version of rapeseed; winter and spring varietiesare available. Winter varieties are not as winter hardy as wintersmall grains (wheat, barley). Tap root breaks up hardpan. Goodrotation crop, breaking cycles of weeds, disease and insectpests. Mellows soil.

Sclerotinia-susceptible.Should not be grownwithin five years ofsunflower.

Peanut 109 Peanuts are often grown in rotation with other crops to replacesoil nitrogen and decrease the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Sunflower 98 Catch crop for nutrients, breaks up hardpan and compacted soil,may reduce fusarium when used in rotation with grain crops,can serve as a windbreak. Row-cropping provides opportunityfor mechanical weed control during growing season.

Susceptible to sclero-tinia and should begrown once very fiveyears. Should not beraised in short rotationswith crucifers.

Saffl ower 80 Breaks up hardpan and compacted soil with its deep roots.

Crambe 72 Cool season crop—similar to canola, but more disease resistantand is tolerant of flea beetle damage.

Camelina 60 Cool season crop—a crucifer like canola, rape, mustard, andcrambe. Has allelopathic effects and it is somewhat droughtresistant. Is fairly weed competitive when winter or very earlyspring seeded.

Mustard 59 Primarily a cool season crop. Nutrient catch crop. Has nemati-cidal properties that reduce soil-borne pathogens. Can smotherweeds and has allelopathic effects on weeds.

Sclerotinia-susceptible.Should not be grownwithin five years ofsunflower.

Flaxseed/Linseed 49 A good crop for interseeding or to sow following a competitivecrop onto clean field. Not weed competitive on its own. It is alight feeder.

Soy 46 Fixes nitrogen, although most of the nitrogen is removed withthe bean harvest.

Poor choice for control-ling erosion or buildingorganic matter levels.

Lupine 24 Moderate nitrogen fixer, takes up soil phosphorus—makingit available for subsequent crops; reduces erosion and cropdisease, deep taproots can open and aerate soil.

Oat 22 Erosion control, enhances soil life, and adds organic matter.Serves as a catch crop and a nurse crop, can be used for weedcontrol in rotations, crop residue reduces nitrogen leaching.

Table 2: Rotational benefits of oilseed crops. See the References section for sources.


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State agricultural experiment stations, theCooperative Extension Service or the Natu-ral Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)may have information on specific oilseedcrops that can be raised in certain locationsand the best rotations for soil-building andpest suppression benefits. Sustainable agri-culture groups are often helpful, since they

may have farmer members who have experi-ence raising brassicas or other oilseed cropsin rotation. Rotational benefits are also out-lined in other sources listed in the Furtherresources section of this publication.

The bulk commodity treadmill Large plots of undifferentiated plant spe-cies grown on the same ground year afteryear or in very short rotations are known asmonocultures. Te negative environmental

aspects of monocultures are researched andproven. Te same aspects hold true for anyoilseed crop considered for biodiesel. Mono-culture crop production can deplete the soilof organic matter and essential nutrients, which can result in soil compaction, erosionor downstream nutrient loading. Monocul-tures also create more insect, pathogen and weed management challenges.

Monocultures exhibit an economic dimen-sion as well. At what point does any cash

crop become an undifferentiated bulk com-modity raised in such high volumes that itdoesn’t have enough value for growers to

turn a profit? Many farmers and ranchersare raising more diverse, higher-value foodcrops and animals because they perceive thatsubsidized, bulk commodity production iseconomically unsustainable for them. Tisis a factor to consider in producing biofuelcrops as well.

The energy balance of biodieselcompared to ethanol and petroleum diesel Debates within scientific and policy circlescenter on the net energy balance of variousethanol and biodiesel feedstocks. Te energybalance is “a comparison of the energy storedin a fuel to the energy required to grow,process and distribute that fuel” (ickell,2000). In this publication we use the mostcommonly quoted energy balance statisticsavailable at press time.

Biodiesel provides a positive energy balance,according to most sources. For every unitof energy needed to produce biodiesel, 3.2units of energy are gained. Evidence suggestsvirgin oil from sources other than soy mayhave even higher energy content. Overall,biodiesel is said to have the highest energyyield of any liquid fuel. According to theMinnesota Department of Agriculture Website (Groschen):

Biodiesel provides an energy yield of3.2 (soybean oil)

Bioethanol provides an energy yieldof 1.34

Petrodiesel provides an energy yieldof .843

Petro gasoline provides an energyyield of .805

Economics of biodiesel production and useCommercial-scale biodiesel production hasbeen through some dizzying and diffi cultgrowth and retrenchment periods in the pastfew years. After rapid growth and reports ofprofits in 2006-2007, 2008 spikes in com-modity prices and the collapse in petro-leum prices have made for some hard les-

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Canola is the edible version of rapeseed. Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.


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sons for biodiesel investors and advocates.Some planned biodiesel plants were notbuilt and existing plants cut production orclosed in 2008. One can now draw on someof these experiences to assess the economicsof biodiesel production.

Many studies have been conducted on thepotential macroeconomic benefits of large-

scale biodiesel production in various loca-tions around the country. According to theHampel Oil Distributors’ Biodiesel FactSheet (Hampel Oil, 1998), and Dr. DonaldVan Dyne, seven major economic benefits would accrue to state and local communitiesthat produced biodiesel:

1) Biodiesel expands demand for soybeanoil, which raises the price processors payfor soybeans.

2) Soybean fa rmers near the biodieselplant receive slightly higher prices forsoybeans.

3) he presence of a facility that createsenergy from soybeans adds value to thestate’s industrial and income base.

4) More jobs and increased personal incomein rural communities.

5) Additional and more diversified marketsfor both starch-based and oilseed-based

crops that can help production agriculturebe more competitive.

6) Investment in production plants alsoprovides an increased tax base to helpsupport local governments, schools andother public services (Van Dyne, 1998).

Van Dyne’s first and second assertions havebeen confirmed by a 2009 study commis-sioned by the United Soybean Board. Tatstudy found that “U.S. soybean farmers

received an additional $2.5 billion in netreturns over the last four years due to thebiodiesel industry’s demand for soybean oil.”or about a 25-cents-per-bushel increase inthe price of soybeans. Te study asserts “thatthe biodiesel industry has essentially createda new floor for soybean oil prices. Addition-ally, the study found that higher demandfor soybean oil led to an increased supply ofsoybean meal, resulting in meal prices

dropping by $19 to $45 per ton.” (Feed-stuffs, 2009)

A 30-million-gallon-a-year (MGY) biodieselplant in Ralston, Iowa, currently employs28 full time workers. he nearby 12-million-bushel-a-year capacity oilseedcrusher employs 16 fulltime-equivalent workers (Raney, 2009). If this plant is indic-

ative of larger-scale biodiesel production, thelate 1990s projections of 100 jobs created foreach 100 MGY of biodiesel production seemto hold true.

Scale is a strong determinant of who canafford to own all or part of a plant orbiorefinery, bear the risks and accrue thebenefits of that ownership. he rule ofthumb for the price of a new, larger-scalebiodiesel plant is about $1 for a gallon ofannual production capacity.

Te cost of the vegetable oil feedstock is thesingle largest factor in biodiesel productioncosts. In recent years, biodiesel costs rangedbetween $1.25 and $2.50 a gallon, beforetaxes, depending on transportation, distri-bution and feedstock costs (Radich, 2004).

Waste vegetable oil can be used to makebiodiesel. What was once considered a wasteproduct to be given away or disposed of in alandfill now has value and a price for reuse

in a many communities. Tis has the neteffect of driving up this biodiesel feedstockcost as well.

Mustard has rotational benefits. Photo courtesy of

USDA ARS.

he cost

of the

vegetable

oil feedstock is

the single largest

factor in biodiesel

production costs.


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Biodiesel that is sold, traded or otherwisepublicly distributed has to meet the ASMD-6751 quality standards. Processing andtesting to these standards can add consider-ably to the costs of biodiesel production forsmaller producers. Some biodiesel users andhomebrewers are willing to accept tradeoffsin small-scale production, meeting only the

most critical indicators of fuel quality.he economics of producing and usingbiodiesel on a small scale are outlined inMaria “Mark” Alovert’s excellent BiodieselHomebrew Guide . Tere are several calcula-tors that can help determine the costs of oil-seed crushing and biodiesel production. Seethe Further resources section at the end ofthis publication for more details.

Ownership and design of

biodiesel productionOwnership and design of biodiesel produc-tion is also related to feedstock price and afair rate of return to farmers. Farmer owner-ship of at least part of the production processbeyond the farm gate keeps more dollars infarmers’ pockets and in the local commu-nity. Tis has been proven time and again,most recently in the Midwest with ethanol

production. According to David Morrisof the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, “Iffarmers own the ethanol plants; that is, ifthey own a share of the manufacturing facil-ity that converts their raw material into afinished product, they can receive dividendsof 20-30 cents per gallon.” (Morris, 2005)

Another dimension related to farmers mak-

ing a reasonable profit is the value of biodieselco-products. For example, entrepreneurs andscientists in Montana considering biodieseldevelopment in that state discovered in 2006that a biodiesel plant could not pay farmers asustained fair price for their bioenergy crops(canola or industrial rape) unless the co-prod-ucts could be manufactured and sold.

Tis means that a biorefinery may be themost economically sustainable means oflarger-scale biodiesel production. Within

this production design or paradigm, thecrude vegetable oil pressed from bioenergycrops is the base for all sorts of products,ranging from relatively lower-value biodieselto biolubricants for motors. Te crop press-ings have potential value as biopesticides andanimal feed. Table 3 shows some of the possibleco-products of biodiesel (Miller, 2003).

Biorefineries are not a new concept. Teyare, in fact, similar to petroleum refineries.

However, their process com-plexities, capitalization andpermitting requirements go farbeyond making biodiesel in thegarage or farm shop.

Scale of biodiesel productionIn the Kansas-based LandInstitute’s Sunshine Farm proj-ect, researchers concluded that

farm-scale biodiesel productionmight not be cost-effective forfarmers to pursue individually,but that some level of commu-nity-scale biodiesel production

with standards satisfactory toengine manufacturers would bemore feasible (Bender, 2001).Individuals would each haveto spend too much energy and

Table 3: Value-added tree (Adopted from Miller, 2003)


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resources to produce biodiesel on a farm.Tis conclusion has been verified by Mon-tana farmers who participated in a statewidebiodiesel testing project (Kurki, 2009).

Small community-scale biodiesel produc-tion would likely produce more biodieselfor less effort. Tat scale of production wasnot precisely defined in the Land Institute

report. Far more research and documentedpractical experience in biodiesel production indispersed, near-farm and community-levelsettings is needed.

Larger-scale biodiesel production has slowedafter an enormous growth spurt. In March2008, 173 biodiesel production plants wereonline in the United States. Te new plantsrange in initial production capacity fromabout 1.25 MGY at a plant in exas to aproposed 30 MGY plant in Iowa. Archer

Daniels-Midland has an 85 MGY plant inNorth Dakota (using canola) and Cargillhas a 37.5 MGY plant in Iowa.

Access to biodiesel Biodiesel is currently available in most statesthat produce oilseed crops, and many farmersuse biodiesel as a means of fostering produc-tion and raising public awareness. Nonethe-less, farmers’ access to biodiesel for farm useis another dimension that requires consid-eration and raises potential for a sad irony.Farmers who raise crops for biodiesel inisolated rural areas may not have ready accessto the finished fuel. Unless farmers intend tomake biodiesel on-location, or a larger-scalelocal biodiesel production facility is online,many farmers may find they cannot use thefuel they are working to create. On its Website, the National Biodiesel Board lists about1,400 suppliers across the United States, butsome have discontinued biodiesel distribu-

tion. Almost every state has at least one pumpstation that offers some blend of biodiesel,though not necessarily within practical dis-tance for most potential customers. Te siteposts a map of retail outlets for biodieselacross the country. Te board recommendsasking regional fuel distributors to get morebiodiesel supplied locally (NBB, 2009).

ConclusionResources are available to help farmers andconsumers determine the best means to managethe advantages biodiesel has to offer. Biodieselhas tailpipe benefits and holds great promise as asustainable energy source, if several sustainabilityprinciples are treated seriously:

1) Capture as much energy effi ciency as pos-

sible on and off the farm to reduce trans-portation fuel demand, reduce productioncosts and improve energy balance.

2) Convert as much waste as possible into auseable resource, such as converting wastevegetable oil into fuel.

3) Put oil-producing crops and high-qual-ity agricultural lands to their highest andmost sustainable use, which will often befood production instead of energy pro-duction.

4) Raise bioenergy crops that enhance soiland water resources.

5) Create a range of diverse opportunitiesfor biodiesel production in terms of thescale, design and ownership, so farmersand rural communities can share in theeconomic benefits.

Biodiesel bus. Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.


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References

Bender, Marty. 2001. Energy in Agriculture andSociety: Insights from the Sunshine Farm. Te LandInstitute. 10 p. Accessed July 2009. www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2001/03/28/3accb0712

Earthrends. 2009. ransportation: Motorgasoline consumption per capita. World Resources

Institute. Accessed July 2009. http://earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/index.php?theme=6&variable_ID=292&action=s.elect_countries

Feedstuffs. 2009. Biodiesel Adds Value to SoybeanPrices. Information from United Soybean Board. Accessed September 2009. Feedstuffs magazine.www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=F4D1A9DFC D974EAD8CD5205E15C1CB42&nm=Breaking+News &type=news&mod=News&mid=A3D60400B4204079 A76C4B1B129CB433&tier=3&nid=8D34974C9E8A4 83AAA8A2A016B6FA103

Groschen, Ralph. No date. Energy Balance/Life CycleInventory for Ethanol, Biodiesel and Petroleum Fuels.Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Hampel Oil. 1998. Power Biodiesel and Bio Fuels. Accessed August 2009. www.hampeloil.com/ power%20bio%20diesel.html

Kurki, Al, with Howard Haines. 2009. Oilseeds forFuel, Feed and the Future Project Report. NationalCenter for Appropriate echnology. May 2009.www.ncat.org/special/oilseeds.nrcs.report.06.01.09.pdf

Miller, Paul. 2003. Value-Added ree in A BiobasedVision for Montana and the Pacific Northwest.Presentation at the Greening Under the Big Skyconference. Big Sky, M, June, 2003.

Morris, David. 2005. West Wing’s Ethanol Problem. Alternet. Accessed July 2009. www.alternet.org/ envirohealth/21147

National Biodiesel Board (NBB) 2009. Biodiesel FactSheets. Accessed July 2009. www.biodiesel.org/resources/ fuelfactsheets/default.shtm

National Biodiesel Board (NBB). 2009. Guide toBuying Biodiesel. Accessed July 2009. www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/guide

Peterson, Charles L. No date. Potential Productionof Biodiesel. University of Idaho. Accessed July 2009.www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/bioenergy/BiodieselEd/ publication/02.pdf

Radich, Anthony. 2004. Biodiesel Performance, Costs,and Use. Energy Information Administration. U.S.Department of Energy. www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ analysispaper/biodiesel

Raney, Bill. West Central Soy. April 2009 phoneconversation with author Al Kurki.

ickell, Joshua. 2000. From the Fryer to the Fuel

ank: Te Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oilas an Alternative Fuel. 3rd Edition. ickell EnergyConsulting, allahassee, FL. 162 p.

U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). 2004.Estimated Consumption of Vehicle Fuels in theUnited States, 1995-2004; able 10.

Van Dyne, Donald. 1998. Macro Economic DevelopmentBenefits From the Biofuels Industry. University ofMissouri. www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/ reports/gen/19980701_gen-097.pdf

Resources for Table 2Putnam, D.H., J.. Budin, L.A. Field, and W.M.Breene. 1993. Camelina: A Promising Low-inputOilseed. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.), NewCrops. Wiley, New York. p. 314-322.

UC SAREP Online Cover Crop Database.University of California at Davis. Accessed September,2005. www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/ccrop.exe

Wallace, Janet (ed). 2001. Organic Field CropHandbook. Second edition. Canadian OrganicGrowers. Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 292 p.

Further resources

Book Alovert, Maria “Mark.” 2004. Biodiesel HomebrewGuide. Version 9. May 8. 85 p.

OnlineNCA Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Futurewww.ncat.org/special/oilseeds.php

Biodiesel Cash Flow Worksheet, Oilseeds ProcessingCash Flow Worksheet and Biodiesel Cash Flow IncomeStatement Worksheetwww.ampc.montana.edu/energyinformation


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Feasibility of Biodiesel Cost Calculatorwww.uiweb.uidaho.edu/bionergy

National Biodiesel Boardwww.biodiesel.org

Journey to Foreverhttp://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html

Te Veggie Van Organization

www.veggievan.org

Biodiesel and Straight Vegetable Oil Kits forVehicles, Biodiesel Coops, Producers and Morewww.ecobusinesslinks.com/biodiesel.htm

BiodieselSMARER www.biodieselSMARTER.org

National Action Plan for Energy Effi ciency. July 1,2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/napee/index.html

Notes


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Page 12 ATTRA

Biodiesel: The Sustainability Dimensions

By Al Kurki, Amanda Hill and

Mike Morris, NCAT Program Specialists

Updated by Amanda Lowe, NCAT Intern

© 2010 NCAT

Holly Michels, Editor

Amy Smith, Production

This publication is available on the Web at:

www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/biodiesel_sustainable.html

or

www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/biodiesel_sustainable.pdf

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Biodiesel - The Sustainable Dimension