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Message: Biodiesel a growing trend on the farm

Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute

Tomorrow is today: that's the message that Dave Gullacher wants to get to producers about using biodiesel in their farm operations.

"Biodiesel is something that many see as something for the far off future. But it's not. It is something that we can act on today and we have the science to back it up," says Gullacher, who is President and CEO of the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI.)

Two events make it important for farmers and other fuel users to take biodiesel seriously. First, the International Energy Agency has recently raised louder alarm bells about the world's declining supply of conventional oil. Second, biodiesel blends will soon be the law: a regulation passed by the federal government last fall will come into force on July 1 of this year, when it will become mandatory to have an annual average of at least two per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil.

"Biodiesel blends are going to be a part of our future on the farm. One of our goals at PAMI is to find how to make the best use of those fuels in an agricultural environment."

But meeting regulatory requirements aren't the only reason for producers to take a serious look at biodiesel, Gullacher says.

"Biodiesel creates value-added opportunities for Western Canada. With our abundant oilseed crops, this region is a natural place to set up biodiesel plants. That means more jobs, more opportunities for our communities and more market options for our grain producers."

This opportunity hasn't gone unnoticed by provincial and federal governments. Saskatchewan's government recently unveiled an incentive program to stimulate the production of biodiesel.

USER FRIENDLY

According to PAMI's research which was funded by a number of federal, provincial and private sector agencies from across Western Canada, Prairie farmers are well aware of the opportunities presented by biodiesel and are eager to pursue them. In one project, PAMI and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives set up a field demonstration of ten farmers who agreed to use biodiesel in their operations for two years and give their impressions of it.

Among the first questions asked of the participants was "Why were you interested in using biodiesel?" Although concern for the environment registered as a motivation, producers were motivated by saving money and supporting local economic development.

The field tests ran the gamut of levels of biodiesel blends – from fuels with only five per cent biodiesel right up to straight 100 per cent biodiesel. Likewise, the tests were conducted on different vintages of farm equipment to adjust for advances in fuel-efficiency technology.

Most farmers either noticed no difference in starting their engines or noticed that they got easier starts with biodiesel. Likewise, most producers noted little if any difference in power, performance, fuel economy or lug-down under load.

The farmers participating in the test unanimously agreed that they were happy with the overall performance of biodiesel and they would use it again. Producers did, however, comment that they would use different blends in different seasons – higher levels of biodiesel in summer, higher levels of conventional diesel in winter. This will likely align well with fuel suppliers who will probably deliver slightly higher concentrations of biodiesel in summer, and lower in winter.

GOOD IN STORE

The positive results from PAMI's field tests back up observations made in various lab tests. A common concern about biodiesel is that it doesn't store well and gradually degrades. In PAMI's tests this was not found to be a problem.

At the end of the on-farm field tests, biodiesel was left in the fuel tanks of the combines. Approximately nine months later (three months later than the recommended storage time), PAMI collected biodiesel samples for analysis of the remaining fuel in three of these combines. Fuel filters were also removed for analysis, to determine the composition of residual compounds on the filters.

In addition, PAMI also compared conventional diesel to samples of five per cent, 10 per cent and 20 per cent canola-based biodiesel blends that had been stored for approximately two years in outdoor above-ground storage tanks, without any additives.

The samples were extensively tested. The results of this testing showed that long-term storage of biodiesel blends up to concentrations of B20, for periods of up to two years, did not adversely affect the quality of the biodiesel.

A POWERFUL ALTERNATIVE

Another common concern about biodiesel is that it leads to dramatically lower engine power. While it is a fact that the energy density is slightly lower in biodiesel than petroleum-based diesel this is usually offset by better ignition properties and oxygen content. PAMI decided to put the concern about power to the test in the lab.

PAMI measured the effect of biodiesel blends on the performance of various types of engines. Four tractors, typical of those used on prairie farms, were tested. Each was a different vintage and had different technical specifications. Power and fuel consumption were determined using established OECD test protocols.

Comparisons were carried out between conventional diesel fuel and a range of biodiesel blends – five per cent, 10 per cent, 20 per cent, 50 per cent and 100 per cent (B5, B10, B20, B50 and B100.)

For B5 and B10 blends, the effect on engine power was negligible: an average of less than one per cent. The effect on engine power rose as the biodiesel blend increased, however. B20 to B100 blends resulted in a loss of power ranging from two per cent to 12 per cent.

Older engines tended to compensate for the reduction in power by simply burning more fuel. Newer engines, with more advanced fuel management and emissions systems, tended to keep fuel levels steady therefore leading to the engine power reductions described above.

GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE

These studies by PAMI align with other recent findings by the National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative, and according to Gullacher they show that biodiesel is ready for the big time.

"This isn't experimental technology. This is a real, viable alternative that producers can begin using on their operations today."

Gullacher is excited about the prospects for biodiesels in Western Canada and predicts a new style of mutually beneficial relationship.

"There are benefits for the environment, benefits for our local economies, and real cash market opportunities for producers, in providing an avenue of use especially for lower grades of canola. It's a winning scenario all around."

Source: http://www.swbooster.com/Business/Agriculture/2011-06-09/article-2571375/Biodiesel-a-growing-trend-on-the-farm/1

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