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Biodiesel and its Blending into Fossil Diesel

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Unintended Consequences of Renewable Energy

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

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Abstract

This chapter examines the various unintended consequences of biodiesel production including loss of biodiversity and shortfalls in GHG reductions. An account of biodiesel impacts in comparison to fossil diesel is followed by a critical review of the common practice of using additives to improve biodiesel performance in the winter. Many of these additives have negative, or unknown effects on human health and the environment. In this respect, biodiesel is an environmentally “friendly” fuel that creates environmental problems. An additional aspect of biodiesel use is the practice of blending the fuel with fossil diesel. Common in Europe, USA, and Canada, blending is done in order to comply with policy targets for increasing the share of transport fuels based on renewable energy sources. Results obtained from advanced modeling, designed to predict future consequences of the blending practice are then presented in this chapter. These include molecular dynamics simulations indicating that new toxic nanoparticles are being formed in the exhaust pipes of vehicles run on bio-blended diesel. This represents a likely mechanism for the increased exhaust mutagenicity of bio-blended diesel observed in other studies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    First-generation biofuels are made from “sugar, starch and oil bearing crops or animal fats that in most cases also can be used as food and feed”, according to the International Energy Agency [13].

  2. 2.

    Information obtained through personal communication with A. Demoulin, Fina Oleochemicals, Fina Research S. A., Zone Industrielle C, 7181 Seneffe (Feluy), Belgium. Tel.: +32/64/51.42.29.

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  1. Western Norway Research Institute, Kaupanger, Norway

    Otto Andersen

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Andersen, O. (2013). Biodiesel and its Blending into Fossil Diesel. In: Unintended Consequences of Renewable Energy. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5532-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5532-4_5

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