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Advantages of Biodiesel.

Biofuels in general and biodiesel in particular, have less environmental impact than fossil fuels, in terms of acid rain and the greenhouse effect.

Saving in fossil fuels

The transport sector is a major energy consumer. In the Basque Country it accounts for 56% of all demand for petroleum products.

In addition, the sector is almost entirely dependent on petroleum derivatives: this means that we are dependent on an energy source over which we have no control, largely produced in some of the regions of greatest geo-political tension in the world.
Petroleo y derivados
Replacing conventional diesel with biodiesel therefore means a considerable saving in fossil fuels. This can be seen in the graph below, which shows savings in fossil energy for different systems of biodiesel:
Energía fósil

BD10A1 system:
Production and use of biodiesel obtained from raw vegetable oils, mixed with diesel in a ratio of 10 parts per hundred.
BD100A1 system:
Production and use of 100% biodiesel obtained from raw vegetable oils.
BD10A2 system:
Production and use of biodiesel obtained from used vegetable oils, mixed with diesel in a ratio of 10 parts per 100.
BD100A2 system:
Production and use of 100% biodiesel obtained from used vegetable oils.
One important feature of biodiesel is that unlike conventional diesel, the energy obtained from the fuel’s calorific capacity is greater than the energy used in producing it. This proportion is measured using a parameter known as “Fossil Energy Ratio” , which is the quotient between the energy consumed in the fuel and the energy consumed in producing and distributing it.
FUEL FOSSIL ENERGY RATIO
Diesel EN 590 0.968
BD5A1 1.002
BD10A1 1.038
BD100A1 3.856
BD5A2 1.014
BD10A2 1.065
BD100A2 21.861
Source: CIEMAT

Environmental advantages

Because of its plant origins, biodiesel is easily biodegradable. This is an important environmental advantage, especially in the case of accidental spillage. Moreover, it has a flash point of over 110ºC, meaning that it is not a hazardous cargo.

When burned in an engine, biodiesel gives off practically no sulphur, thus preventing emissions of SOx which causes acid rain.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are lower than for conventional diesel. In addition, biodiesel is carbon neutral:   during growth, the plants used to manufacture it absorb the same quantity of CO2 as given off when running the vehicle (closed CO2 cycle).
An added advantage is that biodiesel does not contain benzene or other carcinogenic aromatic substances.
Tests conducted by ACCIONA - ENERGY on real vehicles during more than one year show that replacing diesel with biodiesel reduces emissions of pollutant by the following rates:

  • 90% reduction in CO2 emissions.
  • 99% less sulphur dioxide (SO2), a gas which is hazardous for human health and plants.
  • 52% reduction in pollutant particles, the main cause of smog in cities and respiratory diseases.
  • 63% fewer unburned hydrocarbons, carcinogenic compounds that are a health hazard.
  • 22% less carbon monoxide (CO), a highly toxic gas which causes environmental pollution in large cities.
The figure below shows the relative CO2  emissions (horizontal axis), and emissions of particles and NOx (vertical axis) of different fuels used in transport.

The further right a given fuel is on the graph the higher its CO2 emissions and the higher up it is on the Y-axis, the greater the NOx and particle emissions.

Comparing conventional diesel and biodiesel, we can see that although emissions of NOx and particles are similar, replacing diesel by biodiesel significantly reduces CO2 emissions.

We can therefore conclude that a real solution for reducing CO2 emissions is to use biofuels: biodiesel and bioethanol.

Social advantages

Using biodiesel reduces external energy dependency. This is an advantage both for consumers and for the economy in general, in that it reduces the uncertainty caused by continuous fluctuations in the price of petroleum derivatives.

At the same time, there are clear advantages in using a local biofuel, manufactured and distributed by local companies employing local personnel, in direct substitution of imported fuel from third countries.

Finally, it is also worth remembering the jobs that will be created in agriculture and in the manufacture and procurement of biofuels, as well as the re-usage of abandoned agricultural land.

Technical Advantages

This fuel combusts better because its structure has more oxygen than diesel. This means a clear reduction in soot emissions—up to 55%—and an end to black smoke and unpleasant odours.

The high lubricating capacity also protects the motor, reducing friction and noise and thereby cutting maintenance costs.
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