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Why Is Biodiesel Called a Renewable Resource?

Biodiesel is a fuel which is produced from renewable resources such as peanuts, soybeans and even animal fats and food waste products. Biodiesel does not contain any traces of petroleum, but it can be mixed with it to form a biodiesel blend. The blend would be considered as biofuel only if it consists of 80 percent renewable material. Biodiesel is a fuel that has very low emissions and can be replaced as fuel in diesel engines with very few modifications.

  1. Significance of Renewable Resource

    • Currently, most of the world's energy supply is from resources such as coal, oil and natural gas. These resources are known as the "fossil fuels" and are considered non-renewable since the rate at which fossil fuel regenerates is much less than the rate at which it is depleted. The time has come to find better resources of energy in order to conserve the world's fossil fuels for the future generations.

    Biodiesel Production

    • Biodiesel is produced from biologically renewable resources. Theoretically, the rate at which a renewable resource regenerates is the same as the rate at which it gets depleted. The main source of biodiesel is soybean. But there are also numerous other feedstock materials from which it can be produced such as peanuts, tung oil, sunflower, rice, hazelnuts, safflower, corn, cotton, oil palm, sesame and olive oil.

    Process

    • Biodiesel is produced through a process called transesterification. This is a chemical process in which vegetable oil is separated into glycerin and methyl ester, which is the chemical base for biodiesel. Although biodiesel has been produced for a long time, the use of it as an alternative fuel for diesel is a fairly recent development.

    Biodiesel: Renewable Energy Resource

    • The biggest advantage of biodiesel lies in the fact that it is made from renewable sources. The sulfur emissions from burning of biodiesel are much less than that of fossil fuels. This helps to reduce acid rain. Biodiesel is even less toxic than table salt and can bio-degrade like sugar. Also, even though burning of biodiesel results in emission of carbon dioxide, this is absorbed by the crops growing to make the fuel. Since the carbon dioxide is absorbed by the crops, this emission does not add to global warming.

    Uses

    • Biodiesel is used for residential and commercial heating. As engine oil, it helps in increase engine life and smooths engine operation because of higher lubricity. Biodiesel is also efficient and requires very little energy to make. The production of biodiesel reduces the dependence on oil from foreign countries and thus aids in developing a better economy.

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