Friday, July 24, 2009

Biodiesel is The Best Alternative Energy

The term biodieselhas been used a lot lately in the news due to increased prices in gas. This type of fuel is a cheaper alternative to rising fuel prices that countries are facing these days. Biodiesel is a non petroleum based diesel fuel which is made primarily with vegetable oil or animal fat. Or it can be combined with other products to obtain a suitable consistency that is right for your vehicle.

Biodesel can be used separately as an alternative to gas or can be blended with other products. There are a lot of benefits to a person using this type of fuel, but there are some disadvantages as well. The main advantage of using this product would be the cost efficiency, but the main disadvantage would be that some of these blends tend to be a little hard on certain car parts. Especially in cars manufactured before the year 1992. But the argument to this is that these certain parts would have worn out anyway.

So if your looking for a cheap alternative to the high rising gas prices in today’s world, then maybe you can check into make some biodiesel for yourself. With tons of information on the Internet regarding biodiesel and biodiesel fuel, you can find out how to make your own fuel. Then when the high cost of gas gets too out of hand, you will have comfort in the knowledge that you created your own fuel at a fraction of the cost that it would cost you at the pumps.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Soybean Biodiesel Production

The recent years witnessed the publicity rush that biodiesel is the ultimate answer to energy problems all over the world. Indeed, governments, companies and industries, and environment groups are moving mountains to attain secure future for the coming generations. Other responses to the energy crisis range from use of animal fat byproducts and soybean biodiesel production and varied biodiesel tax credits and incentives.

Biodiesel or B100 is the cleanest option of burning fuel because it emits fewer pollutants. Moreso,
with its use, biodiesel is considered good for the environment as it is made of renewable resources, does not increase the harmful CO2 level in the atmosphere, and has considerably lower emission than petroleum diesel. Scientists and environmentalists alike put forward the fact that using 100% biodiesel fuels lessen dangerous greenhouse gases by 75%.

Among a variety of biodiesels comes soy biodiesel, an alternative fuel produced from soybean oil.
In four years since 1999, about half a million gallons of soybean biodiesel has been produced, and
mainly used in the United States alone. With very minute or no modifications, soy biodiesel can
be used in diesel engines, and fuel trucks, buses and cars. In a process called transesterification,
methyl esters and glycerin are produced with the former used as the biodiesel itself.

Like all biodiesels, soybean biodiesel production is a cheaper choice, considering the negligible expense one makes when choosing this product for fuel. This leading feedstock for biofuel may cost higher at than $1 per gallon, but is projected to decrease over the years as use of biodiesels are now being the chosen lifestyle of a growing number of people. Point is, biodiesels may cost a few cents more but this can be dismissed when you seriously look at the benefits you get with your choice of fuel.

In the US alone, there are sufficient foodstuffs made up of soybean and vegetable oils and animal fats to make close to 2 billion gallons of biodiesel. Refuting claims of costly soybean biodiesel production, studies finally revealed that they produce more energy than is needed to grow the crops and then convert them to biofuels. With this, the soybean industry has been advocating use of biodiesel as well, flashing the help such method offer the environment and economy of the country. The same industry touts the versatility of soybean biodiesel which can be available to any citizen, stressing further that it has higher net energy benefit than other biodiesel sources.

For its high quality fuel advantages and benefits to the environment, for the energy security it provides the human race and the economic potentials it pose, soybean biodiesel production may just be one of the apt responses each one can make today.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Cost of Biodiesel 2009

Biodiesel these days can be either bought from companies producing them or produced on your own methods. Cost of Biodiesel 2009 elaborates the numerous benefits of making biodiesel a way of life. Stated here is the definite monetary cost of biodiesel to help you understand where your money is spent on. To better understand, biodiesel prices are compared with other fuel costs by the mile.

Per mile, one spends 8.2 cents on biodiesel. This is already B100 or 100% biodiesel cost; a deal . that gets you 37 miles in the city, and 45 miles on the highway. A mixture 80% petroleum-based diesel and 20% biodiesel (also known as B20) gives the same mileage both in the city and on the highway, however, B20 costs only 6.0 cents per mile.

Cost of unleaded gasoline averages at 6.9 cents per mile; one gallon of unleaded gas takes you 25 miles in the city, some 31 miles on the highway; while you need to shell out 5.2 cents for every mile with your usual petroleum-based diesel. With a gallon, your vehicle can run about 38 miles in the city, or 46 miles when traversing the highway.

In sum, the mileage you get with biodiesel at a slightly higher cost is a shrug-off. Besides, crude oil prices’ prominent movement are always upward! If you’re unconvinced of this wisdom, think this: biodiesel cost, over time, will certainly go down. While waiting for that day, focus on the fact that you’re spending a teeny-weeny bit more on biodiesel BUT contributing a lot to a healthier environment.

The cost of biodiesel 2009 may seem a minor splurge, knowing that your usual diesel fuel is the cheapest on the list, and gives your the best mileage besides. The point against this fact is that biodiesel are cost effective to your finances and largely, to the environment – these last three concerns far more outweigh the lower cost and better mileage benefits of the conventional fuel you use.

Consider this, in 2004, biodiesel cost $5 a gallon. Currently, it costs between $3 to $3.50, a trend of its price decreasing over the years. More than its softening cost, biodiesel has been tested and proven to run cleanest among its contemporaries and helps clean and lubricate your engines, sparing you costly maintenance woes.

Use of biodiesel and making it a way of life does not end when you pump the gas to your car. Cost of Biodiesel 2009 is simply a new beginning to your huge contribution to the US economy as well. This is because when use of biodiesel is fully rolled out and finally surpass use of diesel and gasoline, feedstock prices of vegetable oils will swell. Also, tax credits offered at limited time are being handed out by the government in the biodiesel production. When the day comes that biodiesel will be everyone’s choice of fuel, its market price decline and even lowered production cost is something we will be thankful for.