Overview of Biodiesel Production in Oregon: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Prospects
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Presentation Transcript
Oregon Biodiesel Sam Hammond HC399 Fall ‘08
Biodiesel Overview • Can be made from plant oils or animal fats • As well as used grease from restaraunts and major food processing facilities • Biodiesel can be blended with conventional diesel to run in normal diesel engines or it can be used stand alone in modified diesel engines • Usually B5 or B20 • Some Benefits of Biodiesel over conventional diesel • Increases rural development • Greater Energy Security (renewable) • Less CO2 emissions • Average Exhaust Emissions for 100% Biodiesel Compared to Petroleum Diesel Fuel • Regulated Exhaust Emissions B100 • Particulate Matter-47% • Carbon Monoxide-48% • Total Unburned Hydrocarbons-67% • Nitrogen Oxides+10% • Non Regulated Emissions • Sulfates-100% • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)-80% • Nitrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (nPAH)-90% • Speciated Hydrocarbons Ozone Forming Potential-50%
Biodiesel OverviewBasic Production from crops • The steps in biodiesel production from crops can be layed out in fairly basic terms • The first step is to plant, grow, then harvest the oilseed crops being processed • The harvest needs to then be transported to the processing facility • Oil extration via cold press or hexane extraction • Then process resulting oil into biodiesel
Biodiesel OverviewBasic Production from waste oils • This is a much simpler process since it does not involve waiting for crops being grown. Some biodiesel crops are also only seasonal, but this process can be done year round • Basically, the oil from restaurants, food processing facilities, and other sources has to be collected and transported to the biodiesel production facility • Then it can be cleaned and processed into biodiesel
Biodiesel Production Byproducts • Two main byproducts: • Glycerol • Seedmeal • What is to be done with the byproducts?
Basic Biodiesel Equation www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/prod_quality.pdf
Biodiesel Production in Oregon • There are currently only two facilities in Oregon that produce biodiesel • SeQuential Biofuels • Green Fuels of Oregon
Biodiesel Production in OregonCrops that are can/are grown in Oregon to use as biodiesel • Oregon climate offers a variety of oilseed crops that can be grown here • Canola, Rapeseed, Mustard, Camelina, Flax Seed, and Safflower
Biodiesel Production in OregonSeQuential Biofuels • Processing facility is currently in Salem • 1 million gallons / year • They primarily used used cooking oil • Secondary use of oilseed crops • Partners with Willamette Biomass Processors • Crush 100 million pounds of oilseed / year • Currently looking to expand Salem facility
Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon • Current restriction on canola in Willamette Valley • If changed, it’s estimated that 50,000 acres could be used for oilseed crops • This could furnish an 8 to 10 million gallon biodiesel facility
Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon • Factors that cannot be changed • Currently in Eastern Oregon canola can only be grown twice in a five year cycle • In Western Oregon canola can only be grown once in a four year cycle • Limits production of biodiesel
Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon • Feedstock prices have majorly increased • Canola doubled since 2006 • Soybean nearly doubled • Methanol has tripled
Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon • Lack of infrastructure • Not enough crushing facilities to support biodiesel production • Currently minor crushing capacity and a lone plant in Salem making biodiesel
Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon • Low Demand for biodiesel • Many consumers do not realize that biodiesel actually has less emissions than regular diesel • They think it is just the same as normal diesel
Limiting Factors of biodiesel production in Oregon • Currently biodiesel facilities rely on incentives to create market pull and provide money to help cover cost of production • Feedstock is 80% of the price • Prices used to be about 13 cents a pound • Which turns in about $2.44/gallon biodiesel for production • 2008 canola prices are 27 cents per pound • Which turns to $5.06/gallon production cost
http://www.sqbiofuels.com/ • http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/do_reports_biodiesel.shtml#Biodiesel_processing_steps_and_byproducts • http://www.willamettebiomass.com/ • http://www.biodiesel.com/ • http://encoreoils.com/ • www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/prod_quality.pdf