What is Biodiesel?
- Environmentally beneficial. Biodiesel meets rigorous EPA Clean Air Act standards. Because it is derived from renewable resources biodiesel is an environmentally-conscious fuel choice. Biodiesel significantly reduces the harmful emissions associated with global warming while enhancing lubricity of conventional diesel fuel.
- Versatile and Reliable. Pure biodiesel (also called B100 or neat biodiesel) is a clean-burning alternative fuel with a range of applications. It is most often blended with petroleum diesel or with home heating oil.
- Easy to use. Biodiesel operates like petroleum diesel—no need for engine modifications. Its high cetane rating helps assure efficient ignition. Further, blending biodiesel with heating oil—for use as Bioheat® fuel¹ —requires no change to oil-burning furnaces. In addition, Bioheat® fuel oil cleanses heating systems.
- Growing market. The US will produce record amounts of biodiesel in the coming years. Biodiesel production amounted to just 25 million gallons as recently as 2004 (according to figures from the National Biodiesel Board). Production climbed to 250 million gallons in 2006, and it is expected to dramatically increase in the next few years.
¹ "Bioheat®" is a registered trademark of the National Biodiesel Board.