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Alternative Fuels - Bio Fuels: Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a natural and renewable alternative fuel. Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural, renewable, and non-toxic sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats. Soy oil and cooking grease are often used in the production of biodiesel and are reacted with alcohol, usually methanol, producing fatty acid methyl esters or Biodiesel. Biodiesel is a strong candidate to replace the use of petroleum diesel, because it can be used in current diesel engines and can be distributed using the current fuel infrastructure. In fact, more and more gas stations are offering biodiesel to their customers.

Although, biodiesel has combustion properties very similar to petroleum diesel, it is, unlike petroleum diesel, a non-toxic, non-explosive, biodegradable, and most importantly produces far less environmentally-harmful emissions when burned in an engine. Unfortunately, however, biodiesel is, as of yet, more expensive to produce than petrodiesel.

Biodiesel is already is already in use in combustion engines all over the world. Only pure, 100% biodiesel is usually considered to be an alternative fuel; biodiesel is mostly used in fuel blends of part petroleum diesel and part biodiesel. For example blends of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel are common and can usually be used in diesel-engined cars without any modifications. Blends with more biodiesel, or even pure biodiesel can be used after some minor modifications to the car. With the help of government incentive, biodiesel has become a widely used fuel. Especially, large transport fleets such as those of government organizations, transit authorities, public utility companies, and postal and delivery services are using biodiesel.

Due to the fact that there is a good supply of oxygen in biodiesel and that there is very little sulphur in it, its emissions contain relatively much less greenhouse gases. The use of 100% biodiesel could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75% and the use of 20% biodiesel by 15%.While biodiesel does emit a considerable amount of nitrogen oxide, research is being done to resolve this issue. Furthermore, biodiesel can be produced domestically, reducing Canada's reliance on imported petroleum based fuels.