Farmers turning to Biogas for energy production

Each year there are millions of tonnes of waste food produced and sent to landfill. This waste creates harmful green houses gasses when the food is cooked (through energy used) and when it decomposes.

The solution, widely seen on the continent is biogas production. This is now a focus of UK farmers who are capitalising on European funding to invest in biogas.

It is another fantastic example of recycling a waste product into something useful, like biodiesel production from waste vegetable oil!

Bio-diesel controlled by oil prices.

The power of the oil price can be seen in Indonesia’s national energy strategy which set out energy diversification policies that focused on renewable resources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and conservation measures to improve the overall energy efficiency of the economy.

The implementation of these policies has never been consistent, tending instead to follow the boom-bust cycle of oil prices. When oil prices rose last year up to US$147 per barrel in July, the government suddenly trumpeted the vital role of palm oil-based biofuels and the urgent need to make energy conservation compulsory for industrial companies.

However, it was back to business as usual once oil prices dropped back to as low as $35 per barrel early this year. Most palm oil-based bio-diesel producers had reportedly either stopped production or slashed their operating capacity to 20 percent, because of policy inconsistency and an inability to compete with subsidized gasoline and diesel oil.

To read more about the Indonesia’s energy problems visit thejakartapost.com

3 Korean companies invest $649m in bio-diesel

Manilastandardtoday.com reported 3 Korean companies investing $649m in bio-diesel, coco projects.

The Philippines and South Korea have forged a $600-million five-year cooperative agreement to promote and develop bio-diesel projects in the Philippines.

The agreement was part of President Arroyo’s official visit to Korea on May 30 to 31, said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

He said two Korean companies, Environment Plasma Co. Ltd. and Eco Solutions Co. Ltd. will develop lands for bio-fuels feedstock.

An example of a machine for making bio-diesel.

How to beat the recession: invest in biodiesel

With all the cars and fuel prices back on the rise, there has never been a better time to take another look at alternative fuels and biodiesel. Generally, as oil prices rise, interest seems to increase in Biodiesel. Biodiesel definitely is cleaner burning and less harmful to the environment as we all know, however, in order for it to be truly attractive, it has to also have the right price points. Unfortunately, fuel prices fluctuate daily, so it’s hard to maintain a stable price with any fuel.

Overall, biodiesel does seem to be cheaper and more stable in price than oil which suggests it may be the better option!

China Clean Energy Inc. announce financial results

China Clean Energy Inc, a producer of biodiesel fuel and environmentally-friendly specialty chemical products made from renewable resources in The People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

2009 First Quater Highlights

• Revenue totaled $2.8 million
• Gross Profit $356K
• Net loss $143K

“The slowdown in the global economy and lower oil prices adversely affected both our specialty chemical and biodiesel business during the first quarter,” said Mr. Tai-ming Ou, China Clean Energy’s Chairman and CEO.

Why should I run my car on Bio-diesel?

There is a lot of reasons for using Biodiesel rather than fossil fuel diesel. Here are a handful listed;

1. Biodiesel contains less water than diesel.
2. Biodiesel costs less.
3. Biodiesel is renewable.
4. There is less pollution when Biodiesel is used.

US goverment refocuses on bio-diesel production.

Making Your Own Biodiesel reported;

The US’s first comprehensive biofuels market development program is taking shape in Washington, thanks to the President’s directive for the department of Agriculture to aggressively accelerate the investment in the production of biofuels.

The program is being formed by the USDA, Department of Energy and the EPA. As biofuel production has slown down recently, many people fear that the US has become complacent in it’s movement to make biodiesel a viable source of energy that will release our dependence on foreign oil. What this joint relationship in the government means is, expedited funding to biofuelbiorefineries to replace the use of fossil fuels in plant operations by installing new biomass energy systems. producers as well as expedited funding to encourage

Bristol public bus powered by used vegetable oil!

The next time you buy fish and chips for tea, the oil they were cooked in could fuel your bus ride home reported the Bristol Evening Post.

The latest addition to First’s bus fleet due to hit the road will be fuelled by biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil.

Branded “The Chipper”, the single decker bus is part of a six-month trial to see if frying oil can be cost effective.

Share oil .com wish them luck and look forward to seeing the result of the trial!

White House support for biofuels

The Financial Times reported; The White House underlined its support for biofuels yesterday, forming a Biofuels Interagency Working Group that will include the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy, as well as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The group is to develop America’s first comprehensive biofuels market development program, while also providing financial assistance, such as helping to refinance troubled biofuel factories and guaranteeing loans for new bio-refineries. It also will help build a market for biofuels products by developing policies to increase flexible fuel vehicle production and assist in retail marketing efforts.