Greased lightning

Posted by Clark Williams-Derry (Guest Contributor) at 9:44 AM on 20 Nov 2007

Read more about: energy | biofuels

[T]he region's supply of fryer grease is limited. Each Oregonian contributes about a gallon of used cooking oil a year to the grease market. [Emphasis added.]

That's really not much grease -- especially considering that Oregon residents consume about a gallon and a half of highway fuels per person each day. So as much as I love biodiesel, fryer grease just isn't going to power rush hour.

For story: Greased lightning
5 Comments | Post a Comment

Yeap

Can't even get 1% of our fuel needs met by waste vegetable oil and tallows.
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/8/9/161921/0550#com ...

By comparison we could increase fuel economy by 3% merely by inflating our tires better.

Anyone thinking waste grease is going to get us anywhere isn't seeing the bigger picture.

by GreyFlcn at 10:13 AM on 20 Nov 2007

Even so,

you have to hand it to those individuals who are managing to use waste grease.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 10:29 AM on 20 Nov 2007

Not really

In total-result damage caused by biofuels eliminates any sort of benefit.

We'd be far better off swearing off all of it, than quibbling over a few drops.

Whats worse is that the grease diesel folk seem to be so vocal, and give the false image of "everyone doing this" that they are definantly doing more harm than good.

by GreyFlcn at 2:27 PM on 20 Nov 2007

well

No one's asking every individual in whatever place to use biodiesel made from waste grease. It's just another piece, like hybrids, PHEVs, mass transit, electric bikes, biomass, what have you.

GreyFlcn, your world is so darn black and white I wonder about your vision sometimes.

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 5:06 PM on 20 Nov 2007
[ Parent ]

Diesel still trump gasoline...

for several reasons. (second only to BEV)

Almost every diesel can be quickly and cheaply converted to a multi-fuel vehicle burning a combination of list A) diesel, vegetable oil, biodiesel and part B) hydrogen, natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, DME, butanol or wood gas. The duel fuel diesels get better mileage and create less emissions than either standard diesels or standard gasoline hybrids.

Diesel engines will still be required to power the stock of large farm machinery and heavy equipment for the forseeable future. A compressed natural gas bolt on kit saves significant CO2 emissions over a normal diesel. Boosting a regular diesel with hydrogen or natural gas also significantly reduces soot and NOX emissions.

A hydrogen boosted micro-diesel is the ideal genset for a plug-in hybrid as it will yield the best power to weight ratio of anything but a turbine. Small diesel gensets are available while micro turbines are relatively new tech.

Put the Carbon Back

by Pangolin at 5:57 PM on 20 Nov 2007

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