‘By making the change to bio diesel you could reduce your emissions by up to 50%.  Most engines are easily converted but check your guarantee first.’   

Biodiesel - The Facts

Bio diesel is a clean burning, renewable source of fuel which is made from plant material (such as cereals, oilseeds, sugar beet) and recycled elements of the food chain (such as vegetable oils and fats).  Bio diesel made from recycled vegetable oil is considered to be near ‘carbon neutral’. This means that the vegetables from which the oil has been extracted will have removed CO2 from the atmosphere as they grew and then, when bio diesel is burned, that same or similar amount of CO2 will be released back to the atmosphere – meaning the emissions from this fuel are Net Zero.  

Another advantage of bio diesel is that it produces less soot and smoke from engines as there is much more efficient burning of the fuel mixture. Users can expect a near

 - 100% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions (the major contributor to acid rain)

 - 40- 60% reduction in soot & particles

 - 10-15% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions

 - A reduction in Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH’s

 - Faster starting and smoother operation should reduce the amount of unburned fuel.

When spilt, over 98% of the biodiesel involved will have degraded biologically 28 days later.  In the same time only approximately 50% of fossil diesel will have degraded, and after this the degradation rate reduces to a much slower rate, leaving the fuel lingering in the environment for longer. The fast degradation of biodiesel is particularly important in the marine environment where one litre of spilt fuel can contaminate over a million litres of water.   However it is important to note that despite the quick degradation rate, if bio diesel enters the watercourse it will still harm aquatic and marine life – birds, mammals and fish coated in vegetable oil are more vulnerable to predators and could die form hypothermia or illness. 

Bio diesel and boats

It is potentially very easy to make the change to bio diesel as to swap from conventional diesel to bio diesel requires no start up or conversion costs for you engine.  However using bio diesel in a conventional engine may jeopardise the manufacturers warranty so make sure you check with the manufacturers for exact details before you fill your boat up with bio diesel!   

The advantages for you as the boat owner are:

§         Bio diesel can improve engine lubrication when blended with LPG.  Good quality biodiesel lubricates an engine significantly better than petroleum diesel and therefore gives you a longer engine life. 

§         Long term engine wear studies in Europe and the U.S. show that 100% bio diesel reduced long term engine wear to less than half of those engines running on diesel fuel but poorly made bio diesel of low quality can cause engine problems. 

§         Bio diesel has no noxious odours and is considered harmless to handle. It smells and feels like cooking oil.

§         Biodiesel does not require any changes to your existing storage facilities and can be used in any tank straight away. 

§         Biodiesel can also be mixed with any existing diesel you may have in any combination of concentrations according to your requirements.

NB - At a 5 - 20% blend with ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) the mixed fuel will operate as you would expect any normal diesel to.  At higher blends and 100% biodiesel the following information should be taken into consideration –

Fuel Filters

A conventional fuel, such a diesel, forms a dirty deposit that remains in the fuel tank, building up over time. If bio diesel is then introduced to that fuel tank, it breaks down the deposits, actually ‘cleaning’ the tank and fuel pipes of the old residue.  This residue flushed through the system and into the fuel filters.  So, if you plan to use a high blend of biodiesel or 100%, make sure you regularly check the fuel filters and are prepared to change them when needed. The first few weeks are the most important but it is recommended that you check weekly for the first 2,000 miles when converting to bio diesel.   

Rubber

Any rubber parts in your fuel system may corrode in time when using bio diesel, especially at a 100% concentration. However, this should not be a major problem as since the late 1980’s the majority of engines are no longer designed with rubber parts incorporated into the engine.  It is also important to note that biodiesel has been used in many older engines successfully with no major problems, and it is normally a simple and low cost task to replace your fuel lines with bio diesel friendly material.   It is strongly advised to check with your boats manufacturer if you have any questions. 

For more information visit www.thegreenblue.org.uk