Green Transport Biofuels

Biofuels

Biodiesel

What is biodiesel ?

Biodiesel is a naturally oxygenated fuel produced from organic feed sources such as soybeans, cooking oil, and animal fats. Biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100) or blended at any ratio with petroleum diesel to achieve cost efficiency and improve cold weather performance. It is commonly used as B20 – a blend at 20 % biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel can also be produced from waste vegetable oil. The Green Transport programme is currently working with various stakeholders involved in the production of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil value chain. These stakeholders include: Oil users, Oil collectors, Biodiesel producers, Biodiesel users and SABS on writing standards for biodiesel.

What types of vehicles can use biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel vehicle with little or no modification. It is used extensively in parts of Europe and is rapidly gaining support in United States. Applications include buses, delivery trucks, waste disposal and recycling trucks, construction and farm equipment, heavy-duty freight hauling, boats and passenger vehicles. Biodiesel may also be utilized in stationary applications such as diesel generators and boilers.

Biodiesel Production and use in South Africa

Companies which are already using biodiesel in South Africa are shown below:

Biodiesel Centre in Cape Town