Bio-Diesel Explained: Alternative Fuel Facts & Data
The US Department of Energy states that biodiesel is one of the sources of energy that utilizes recycled cooking oils, animal fats, and plant oils as an alternative fuel. This renewable fuel source removes the need for petroleum-derived diesel fuel, unlike other energy usage types that lead to higher emissions.
The Energy Information Administration used to track the biodiesel fuel production per month. Their findings show that the biggest source of 100% biodiesel or B100 is soybean oil. The United States also produces biodiesel blends every month, which are made of pure biodiesel and petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel is a crucial source of fuel as it will help the world achieve sustainability, efficiency, and energy security in the future.
What Is Biodiesel Fuel?
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Biodiesel is a source of renewable energy that local governments and businesses are targeting to produce. This is because it helps boost the production of renewable energy to reduce climate change. Many scientists believe that we are experiencing a climate crisis. Therefore, experts are diligently working to create environment-friendly solutions, such as solar energy, biomass fuels, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, wind turbines, and biodiesel.
This fuel source offers many benefits. It helps reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions caused by global warming. It is utilized as a fuel source for most diesel equipment as is, with only minor adjustments often necessary to use it. After all, it is compatible with the latest technologies in diesel engines. It is also non-toxic and biodegradable, making it suitable for sensitive environments.
Even better is that it is a renewable energy source, unlike fossil fuels that will run out over time. It also eliminated the need for petroleum-derived diesel fuels. The use of recycled resources and agriculture helps in environment protection and preservation as this eliminates emissions.
What Is Biodiesel Made Of?
Biodiesel is produced via a wide variety of materials. The transesterification process is utilized by scientists to create biodiesel fuel. It might come as a surprise that creating this fuel is easier than you think. Its primary ingredients are biofuel crops like vegetable oil, waste vegetable oil, cooking oil, and soybean oil. The production process can also include the use of other crops and animal fats.
Waste oils are effective as a form of renewable diesel as it doesn’t become leftover waste. These restaurant food greases are repurposed because they aren’t utilized for any other purpose. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that they are used to create biomass to deliver biodiesel fuel as it is beneficial to the environment.
Petroleum Diesel Fuel Vs. Biodiesel Fuel
It is not surprising that biodiesel fuel and petroleum diesel are very different. Biodiesel is the superior choice to fossil fuels, such as petroleum, when it comes to carbon emission reduction.
To start with, biodiesel has a 10 to 12% higher oxygen level content than petroleum diesel. This is crucial as it helps lower pollution emissions. Unfortunately, it also reduces the diesel engine power by around 4%. However, it is still a fair trade-off if you want to keep the environment healthy while reducing the need for carbon-based fuels like heating oil and crude oil.
Biodiesel contains very little sulfur. This is why it is needed as a fuel source, as it helps limit how much pollution is produced from diesel-powered engines. Biodiesel is also more slippery compared to petroleum diesel. This is a feature trucking companies appreciate because it helps in reducing wear and tear on the engines.
Biodiesel also has potentially negative features as a renewable fuel. These aspects are created during its production process. This fuel is prone to gelling up when there are low temperatures much more than petroleum diesel. Some biofuels are more likely the culprit than others.
Even so, biodiesel tends to oxidize and become a semisolid gel-like mass. This is a concerning issue for those who use engines. Hence, they only use them on specific occasions. A primary example is a power generator. Biodiesel fuels should be kept in a semi-sealed light-tight container that’s placed in a cool and dry place to ensure the best results.
What Are Biodiesel Blends?
Biodiesel can be blended in several different concentrations. Some of the common blends are B5 (5% biodiesel) and B20 (6% to 20% biodiesel).
Low sulfur heating oil or LSHO is a popular option for home heating. There is also a purer biodiesel known as ultra-low sulfur heating oil or ULSHO. These fuel sources are energy-efficient and clean, so they can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, these are so clean that homeowners do not need to clean their heating systems as often after they use this fuel on a regular basis.
B100 and other high-level biodiesel blends are not used as often at this point. However, they are ultimately consumed as liquid renewable diesel fuel for vehicles. You usually need to modify the equipment when using these higher blends to prevent problems with operating diesel engines.
How Do Biofuels Help Reduce Carbon Emissions?
Biofuels can lower harmful emissions in many various ways. According to the Energy Information Administration, the primary reason these fuels are carbon neutral is because the plants used to create biofuels absorb carbon dioxide. Therefore, the CO2 emissions produced by less pure biofuels and petroleum-based diesel fuels are offset.
Converting biomass feedstocks to biofuels is highly environmentally friendly. These fuels are utilized in furnaces to heat our homes and diesel engines for transportation, among many others. To reduce atmospheric CO2, substances like bioethanol can be used instead of gasoline.
Biofuels are also compatible with the natural carbon cycle. Growing new biomass fuels also removes unwanted CO2 from the environment. This is a huge advantage, even if it was initially an unintended consequence.
Bioheat® Fuel – The Oil Industry’s Solution To Help Reduce Emissions Today
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty with 196 countries agreeing to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This will tremendously improve the standard for renewable fuel.
Homeowners and business owners can get these benefits as soon as possible when they switch to Bioheat® oil. This premium heating oil utilizes liquid renewable fuel such as the B20 blend to reduce carbon emissions. Converting to this fuel will help the US reduce its carbon emissions. This way, it can achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
BioPure™ & Bioheat® Heating Oil – Standards Towards Reducing Emissions Today
196 countries decided to work together to reduce rising temperatures in a show of unprecedented unity called the Paris Agreement. Right now, they are attempting to prevent the average temperature from rising 2°C, with the overall goal to keep it from rising below 1.5°C.
To make this happen, our goal is to reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gases through the use of our BioPure™ heating oil solution. Currently, our customers reduce their heating-related carbon emissions by 20% year over year and that will only get better over time as our BioPure™ oil becomes more environmentally friendly.
Please contact Townsend Energy to order BioPure™ and learn more about how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
How Oil-Heat Users Can Do Their Part In Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Using Biodiesel Blends
Oil-heat users can do their part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions immediately. They only need to convert their fuel delivery from regular home heating oil to biodiesel blends, and this will reduce carbon emissions. It will also help in climate change prevention.
Currently, it is recommended to use B5, B20, and other lower biodiesel blends. These blends have a lower viscosity, unlike B100 which has a higher viscosity, making it less effective to use with the components of your fuel system. These biofuel blends work more effectively with your home heating system. They also allow you to reduce harmful emissions by up to 20%.
This is a win for homeowners as they can do what is needed to protect the Earth. Lesser greenhouse gasses are a great opportunity for the environment because it means the Earth will flourish for a very long time.
Conclusion
The world is finally taking more proactive steps to combat harmful greenhouse emissions. We have the means and technology to develop clean, environmentally friendly, and affordable biofuels, such as biodiesel. These fuels were created to fuel vehicles, generate electricity, and heat homes in a more long-term and renewable method.
When the transesterification process is perfected, biofuels can entirely eliminate greenhouse gasses in due course. The environment’s future looks very bright, with plant-based biofuels leading the way toward a better and brighter carbon-free world. Switch to biofuels today for your import and home heating needs and help us make the world a better place today.
Call Townsend Energy right away to learn more about Bioheat® home heating fuel and start lowering your carbon emission output today!
Call Townsend Energy To Schedule A BioPure™ Heating Oil Delivery
Townsend Energy is offering consumers throughout Northeastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Maine a cleaner, greener solution with BioPure™ heating oil. This ULSHO is blended with pure biodiesel.
You don’t need to make any costly modifications to your current furnace when switching to BioPure™ heating oil and can experience all of the benefits of using a cleaner-burning fuel. Give Townsend Energy a call today and let’s discuss how BioPure™ heating oil can get you started in living greener and healthier.
Contact us now at (800) 722-4101 to find out more!