Oregon Biodiesel Sam Hammond HC399 Fall ‘08

Biodiesel Overview  Can be made from plant oils or animal fats  As well as used grease from restaraunts and major food processing facilities  Biodiesel can be blended with conventional diesel to run in normal diesel engines or it can be used stand alone in modified diesel engines  Usually B5 or B20  Some Benefits of Biodiesel over conventional diesel  Increases rural development  Greater Energy Security (renewable)  Less CO 2 emissions  Average Exhaust Emissions for 100% Biodiesel Compared to Petroleum Diesel Fuel  Regulated Exhaust Emissions B100  Particulate Matter-47%  Carbon Monoxide-48%  Total Unburned Hydrocarbons-67%  Nitrogen Oxides+10%  Non Regulated Emissions  Sulfates-100%  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)-80%  Nitrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (nPAH)-90%  Speciated Hydrocarbons Ozone Forming Potential-50%

Biodiesel Overview Basic Production from crops  The steps in biodiesel production from crops can be layed out in fairly basic terms  The first step is to plant, grow, then harvest the oilseed crops being processed  The harvest needs to then be transported to the processing facility  Oil extration via cold press or hexane extraction  Then process resulting oil into biodiesel

Biodiesel Overview Basic Production from waste oils  This is a much simpler process since it does not involve waiting for crops being grown. Some biodiesel crops are also only seasonal, but this process can be done year round  Basically, the oil from restaurants, food processing facilities, and other sources has to be collected and transported to the biodiesel production facility  Then it can be cleaned and processed into biodiesel

Biodiesel Production Byproducts  Two main byproducts:  Glycerol  Seedmeal  What is to be done with the byproducts?

Basic Biodiesel Equation

Biodiesel Production in Oregon  There are currently only two facilities in Oregon that produce biodiesel  SeQuential Biofuels  Green Fuels of Oregon

Biodiesel Production in Oregon Crops that are can/are grown in Oregon to use as biodiesel  Oregon climate offers a variety of oilseed crops that can be grown here  Canola, Rapeseed, Mustard, Camelina, Flax Seed, and Safflower

Biodiesel Production in Oregon SeQuential Biofuels  Processing facility is currently in Salem  1 million gallons / year  They primarily used used cooking oil  Secondary use of oilseed crops  Partners with Willamette Biomass Processors  Crush 100 million pounds of oilseed / year  Currently looking to expand Salem facility

Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon  Current restriction on canola in Willamette Valley  If changed, it’s estimated that 50,000 acres could be used for oilseed crops  This could furnish an 8 to 10 million gallon biodiesel facility

Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon  Factors that cannot be changed  Currently in Eastern Oregon canola can only be grown twice in a five year cycle  In Western Oregon canola can only be grown once in a four year cycle  Limits production of biodiesel

Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon  Feedstock prices have majorly increased  Canola doubled since 2006  Soybean nearly doubled  Methanol has tripled

Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon  Lack of infrastructure  Not enough crushing facilities to support biodiesel production  Currently minor crushing capacity and a lone plant in Salem making biodiesel

Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon  Low Demand for biodiesel  Many consumers do not realize that biodiesel actually has less emissions than regular diesel  They think it is just the same as normal diesel

Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon  Currently biodiesel facilities rely on incentives to create market pull and provide money to help cover cost of production  Feedstock is 80% of the price  Prices used to be about 13 cents a pound  Which turns in about $2.44/gallon biodiesel for production  2008 canola prices are 27 cents per pound  Which turns to $5.06/gallon production cost

  sel.shtml#Biodiesel_processing_steps_and_by products sel.shtml#Biodiesel_processing_steps_and_by products sel.shtml#Biodiesel_processing_steps_and_by products     d_quality.pdf d_quality.pdf d_quality.pdf