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| History |
Biodiesel has been around for a century. The concept of using plant based oil as a fuel dates back to 1895. While at the World Fair Exhibition in Paris in 1900, Dr Rudolf Diesel the inventor of the diesel engine ran his first engines on a fuel derived from peanut oil. Prior to his death in 1913 he stated that “the diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would considerably help in the development of agriculture of the countries that use it”.
In 1912, Diesel said, “the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in course of time as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time”. Ardent Energy Group takes those words seriously. We are working hard to make Dr. Diesel’s vision viable in the 21st. Century.
The process of making fuel from biomass feedstock used in the 1800’s held great influence on both the industrial magnates and the political and economic processes of the 1920’s and 1930’s. This early reaction became the foundation for the current alternative energy perceptions.
Biodiesel was implemented in South Africa before World War II to power heavy-duty vehicles. In the mid 1970’s, fuel shortages revived interest in developing biodiesel as an alternative to petroleum diesel. However, as the petroleum market was increasingly subsidized, biodiesel was again relegated to a minority “alternative” status.
Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel produced from renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum; however it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with no modifications. Biodiesel is biodegradable non-toxic, carbon neutral and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Today, increasing petroleum fuel costs, environmental concerns and serious human health considerations are once again inspiring the development of biodiesel as a renewable, cleaner burning diesel alternative. As part of an active carbon cycle biodiesel feedstock production reduces the buildup of greenhouse gases GHG, and in return global warming.
In contrast, to drill for petroleum, pump, ship, refine, and ship again one gallon takes an additional 1.2 gallons of fuel just to get it to the end user. To produce one gallon of biodiesel from most oil seeds and process to the pump takes, on average, one third of a gallon of fuel. That is from planting the seeds to pumping the fuel into the vehicle. |
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Rudolf Diesel with his patent
1858 - 1913 |
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