100% Biodiesel-Powered Minibus Starts Operation

In August, 2004, Japan's National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) started operating a minibus for its own business use that runs on 100% biodiesel fuel. This fuel is manufactured using a new technology developed by the NARC, the simultaneous trans-esterification and cracking reaction (sting) method, which converts edible oils such as canola oil, sunflower oil and used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.

This technology uses supercritical methanol to produce biodiesel fuel and emits almost no waste, where the conventional alkali catalyst method generates undesirable by-products such as glycerin.

As compared to conventional diesel oil, engines using biodiesel produced by the STING method emit 40 percent less nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 30 percent fewer hydrocarbons (HC) in exhaust gases, and generate almost no black smoke under strained conditions such as driving uphill. When used cooking oil is the raw material, the estimated production cost is 78 yen (US$0.7) per liter, equivalent to ordinary diesel fuel.

The NARC's plans are to build a model for energy self-sufficiency and sustainability within the confines of a local community. By conducting a crop rotation experiment using oilseed rape and sunflowers on three hectares of rice paddies, the Center plans to produce vegetable oil, collect it after it is used in the kitchen in order to refine it into biodiesel fuel, and supply the fuel to tractors used in the vicinity. The operation of the minibus is part of the Center's energy project.




Posted: 2005/02/18 10:06:42 AM
Japanese version