AIR1-CT92-0169 BIODIESEL: Utilisation of Vegetable Oils and Their Derivatives as Diesel Fuel

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AIR Cluster XI - Non-Food Demonstration Projects : Bulk Chemicals : Chemical Conversion : Fine Chemicals : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Process Engineering : Vegetable Oil/Fat

Biodiesel fuelled cars

SUMMARY

The final reports from several Demonstration projects were presented to National Representatives and others at a symposium held in Paris in March 1996. Reports included that from the European Economic Interest Group (EEIG), known as EUROBIODIESEL, which, when set up, brought together French, German and Italian partners, who were joined in April 1992 by an Irish partner. It was clear that technical problems had been overcome; the main barriers to rapid expansion were economic or customer acceptance; and limits to production areas linked to agreements on animal feed. Where market conditions were favourable, expansion in production was occurring, with the fuel being used in its own right as a diesel substitute, as a blend with diesel or in heating boilers.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this demonstration programme was to gather reliable technical and economic information to enable the development of a European biodiesel industry. The activities included technical validation in pre industrial units of new processes in transesterification and experiments on different monitored fleets. The activities were linked to the concepts of generating added value on a national basis, as well as reducing energy dependency. In the case of biodiesel, these are not simple objectives due to the high cost of production and use of fossil fuel in farming and processing of rapeseed. Hence, analysis extended to the wider economic impacts, as well as considerations of the net energy balance.

OBJECTIVE

This project shall demonstrate the technical and economical feasibility of producing diesel fuel from indigenous oil crops (Biodiesel) and its introduction into the energy market. The environmental effects of the entire production chain will be studied in detail. A European strategy for implementing this technology at large scale will be designed. The project is oriented according to six main axes:

• a) Standardization: A set of physico-chemical standard parameters will be worked out mutually as the technical basis for a European standard proposal on:
  • Rapeseed oil methylester (RME)
  • RME blended at different ratios with fossil diesel fuel
  • Natural rapeseed oil, as final quality for specially adopted engines.

• b) Byproducts: Demo issues for glycerine in animal feed and synthetic chemistry.

• c) Engine test: will be run with pure RME and different blends of RME and diesel fuel on test bench, dynamometer chassis and in large field test, covering modern engine types as well as special constructions and all major fields of application (transport in general, public and private).

• d) European Strategy: Defining the systematic approach for large-scale production of biodiesel, including necessary political and industrial action:
  • At CAP level as far as setaside land for energy is concerned/new market for agriculture.
  • Decision on taxes, duties and incentives (C02, Sulphur, etc.) implementation of the agricultural and industrial production capacities.

• e) Environment: Protecting the environment (against pollutants, exhaust gas, greenhouse effect) is of key importance in the development of the biofuel system. Therefore studies will be carried out to assess and minimize the impact on the environment caused by agricultural production, industrial processing and the use of such products.

• f) Pre-industrial demonstration: elaboration of pre-industrial transesterification units in various environments and according to different processes. The comparison of final results will allow to define the optimal processes to be used for large-scale implementation.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

The additional benefits which could be recognised included: reduced dependency on other (imported) protein rich feeds; continued agricultural production on set-aside land; positive impact on the environment (fossil carbon dioxide abatement); and some evidence for decreased pollution in terms of emission quality from engines running on biodiesel.

ACTIONS

In more detail, the actions undertaken covered specifications for vegetable oil based biofuels in terms of both pure rape oil for adapted engines, as well as for pure esters, on the basis of action already implemented and being financed by Germany. In addition, specifications were drawn up for mixtures of gas oil and methyl esters. Compatibility studies for different materials with esters, as well as toxicity and biodegradability studies, were also completed.

BY-PRODUCTS

Product price remains a key issue, which, apart from agricultural subsidies and/or tax concessions, is dependent on the marketing and handling of by-products. Studies relating to this crucial area included valorisation of glycerin in animal feeds (dealt with in France) and studies of new industrial applications for glycerin depending on its purity.

ENGINE TESTS

Engine tests were carried out, both on optimised motors and in the form of long term tests on different types of standard vehicles, including low temperature tests (to 20 degrees C), tests on target captive fleets (public transport, maritime and river transport), emission tests with catalytic converters and investigation of public acceptance.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The impact of the production and use of rapeseed oil and other esters was assessed through the whole lifecycle of agricultural production and industrial processing, including impact of utilisation, handling and storage, as well as in terms of emissions (CO2, SO2, smoke intensity, etc).

FEASIBILITY

The key question related to the feasibility of putting biodiesel production units into operation. This question was approached on the basis of results of micro economic studies at specified sites, a selection and comparison of various technologies, preparation of invitations to tender for pre industrial units and definition of support programmes, as well as a macro economic study of the biofuel industry drafting different possible scenarios in which different scales of infrastructure were applied. In general, the main deciding factors were political.

ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED

The EEIG includes the following members:

Germany:

Raiffeisen Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG Werftstrasse 218, D 24143 Kiel Tel: 49 431 702 32 82 Fax: 49 431 702 34 80

Erzeugergemeinschaft für Qualitätsraps Unterfranken Friedrich Ebert Ring 32, D 97072 Wurzburg Tel: 49 931 710 71 Fax: 49 931 88 33 28

Schilling Am Bahnhof 13, D 97215 Uffenheim Tel: 49 984 280 18 Fax: 49 984 24 17

Fosthofer Landshuterstrasse 53, D 84051 Essenbach Altheim Tel: 49 87 03 20 41 Fax 49 87 03 84 72

France:

Onidol 12 Avenue George V, F 75008 Paris Tel: 33 1 40 69 49 50 Fax: 33 1 47 23 73 26

Robbe Venette, BP 609, F 60206 Compiegne Tel: 33 44 90 70 00 Fax: 33 44 90 70 70

Sofiproteol 12 Avenue George V, F 75008 Paris Tel: 33 40 69 48 00 Fax: 33 47 23 02 88

Italy:

Novaol Piaza Erculea 9, I 20122 Milano Tel: 39 2 8568 351 Fax: 39 2 8568 369

Consorzio Agr.E.E. Umbria Via G. Marconi 7, I 06012 Citta di Castello Tel: 39 758 557 800 Fax: 39 758 550 690

VM Motori Via Ferrarese 29, I 44042 Cento (Fe) Tel: 39 51 908 511 Fax: 39 51 908 584

Ente di Sviluppo Agricolo del Veneto (ESAV) Via Uruguay 47, I 35020 Padova Camin Tel: 39 49 829 37 11 Fax: 39 49 829 39 09

Italian Biomass Association (Itabia) Via Archimede 161, I 00197 Roma Tel: 39 680 836 17 Fax: 39 6 808 36 17

Ireland:

Teagasc Oak Park Research Centre Carlow Tel: 353 503 31 425 Fax: 353 503 42 423