Canada switches to renewable biodiesel blend

The Canadian federal government has announced that July 1 will be the start date for the incorporation of biodiesel blends in Canada. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) has lauded the final release of the national 2% biodiesel mandate in Canada as good news for consumers, farmers and energy diversity in Canada.

Gordon Quaiattini, CRFA president, reacted to the news by commenting:

‘This will be a special Canada Day for the renewable fuels industry in Canada. Homegrown biodiesel is a cleaner alternative to conventional diesel. It will help moderate price by adding to our fuel supply, create new jobs, and benefit farmers and drivers alike.’

Biodiesel contains no petroleum and can be made from a variety of renewable raw materials (feedstocks), including pure seed oils, animal fats and recycled cooking oils. It performs comparably to petroleum diesel in terms of fuel economy, horsepower and torque. Biodiesel is safe to use in all diesel vehicles, and also can be used as heating oil and in a variety of other applications.

Independent studies have shown that biodiesel produced in Canada generates 85 - 99% less greenhouse gases, depending on feedstock, compared to conventional diesel fuel.

From an economic perspective, domestic consumption of renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel will provide a substantial source of economic and financial benefit to rural areas of the country. Construction of biofuels facilities has generated approximately CAN$ 3 billion in economic activity and ongoing operations represent a CAN$ 2 billion annual economic contribution.

For Canadian farmers, higher incomes that flow from the sale of surplus feedstock bring additional security and lessen reliance on income and safety net programs.

‘Today's announcement sets the stage for Canada to become a world leader in advanced biofuels,’ added Mr. Quaiattini. ‘The production and the commercialisation of next generation advanced biofuels using state of the art technologies and a wide variety of feedstocks is underway. Thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of our biofuel pioneers and a stable policy environment, the future is now for advanced biofuels in Canada.’

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/30062011/canada_switches_to_renewable_biodiesel_blend-/