|
Module 6 covers the history, feedstock sources, conversion, uses and future of biodiesel, a renewable transportation and heating fuel.
Topics: 11.1: Brief overview of biodiesel 11.2: Biodiesel feedstock: oil & oil seed crops 11.3: Cultivation, harvesting & oil extraction in NE 11.4: Making biodiesel: transesterification 11.5: Comparing biodiesel to petro-diesel 11.6: Running diesel engines on biodiesel 11.7: Heating with biodiesel 11.8: Life-cycle analysis: biodiesel EROI 11.9: Future: Europe’s lead & the promise of algae |
Organizations:
- Vermont Biofuels Initiative, a program of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund that aims to supply farm inputs and reduce fossil fuel consumption using local renewable resources.
- Piedmont Biofuels, commercial biodiesel coop in North Carolina with great educational materials
- White Mountain Biodiesel, North Haverhill, NH [See the video posted on the first page.]
- Black Bear Biodiesel, Plainfield VT
- Alternative Fuels Data Center
- National Biodiesel Board
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Resources & readings:
> On-farm biodiesel processing (Nickel, Successful Farming, 28 Mar 2019)
Biodiesel: growing a new bioenergy economy (2005) Greg Pahl, Chelsea Green Publishing, VT [Hartness Library has a copy.]
Small-scale oilseed presses: an evaluation of six commercially-available designs (2014) Callahan et al., Pennsylvania State University
Vermont on-farm oilseed enterprises: production capacity and breakeven economics (2013) Callahan & White, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Project report: State Line Biofuels safety review and engineering study of an on-farm small-scale biodiesel production facility (2009) Callahan & Williamson, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
The energy return on invested of biodiesel in Vermont (2011) Gaza, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
From the fryer to the fuel tank: the complete guide to using vegetable oil as an alternative fuel, Joshua Ticke
Biodiesel homebrew guide 2004, Maria Alovert
Palm Oil Plantations Are Blamed For Many Evils. But Change Is Coming (2015) Daily Life, National Public Radio
How palm oil cultivation in Borneo is threatening the ecosystem everywhere (2015) The Washington Post [photographic essay]
Endangered orangutans gain from eco-friendly shifts in palm oil market (2014) National Geographic
Spread of palm oil production into Africa threatens great apes (2014) The Salt, National Public Radio
> On-farm biodiesel processing (Nickel, Successful Farming, 28 Mar 2019)
Biodiesel: growing a new bioenergy economy (2005) Greg Pahl, Chelsea Green Publishing, VT [Hartness Library has a copy.]
Small-scale oilseed presses: an evaluation of six commercially-available designs (2014) Callahan et al., Pennsylvania State University
Vermont on-farm oilseed enterprises: production capacity and breakeven economics (2013) Callahan & White, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Project report: State Line Biofuels safety review and engineering study of an on-farm small-scale biodiesel production facility (2009) Callahan & Williamson, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
The energy return on invested of biodiesel in Vermont (2011) Gaza, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
From the fryer to the fuel tank: the complete guide to using vegetable oil as an alternative fuel, Joshua Ticke
Biodiesel homebrew guide 2004, Maria Alovert
Palm Oil Plantations Are Blamed For Many Evils. But Change Is Coming (2015) Daily Life, National Public Radio
How palm oil cultivation in Borneo is threatening the ecosystem everywhere (2015) The Washington Post [photographic essay]
Endangered orangutans gain from eco-friendly shifts in palm oil market (2014) National Geographic
Spread of palm oil production into Africa threatens great apes (2014) The Salt, National Public Radio
Video resources:
- Comparing six small oil-seed presses, UVM Extension & VSJF (2013)
- Transesterification process for bodiesel
- Biodiesel lab at Loyala University, Chicago
- How to make biodiesel, Loyala University, Chicago
- Microalgae bioprospecting at NREL, National Renewable Energy Lab (2001)
- Algal Turf Scrubber: Proven Large Scale Algae Production and Water Treatment Systems, HMI Water Treatment Technologies (2009)
- ASU Laboratory for Algae Research (LARB), Arizona State University (2010)
- Vermont Scientists test a new wave of cow power, WCAX (2015)