Dr. Rudolph Diesel was the inventor of the ubiquitous diesel engine, way back in the 1890s. The doctor developed the project as an answer to the basic steam engines that have been around since the auto was first invented. Steam engines were known to be dangerous and could be very unreliable, not like the diesel engine, which was then popular.

The diesel engine was very different to the petrol engine and the diesel worked on the basis of ignition compression. Air is drawn into the engine cylinder and when the piston rises it compresses this air, which automatically ignites, emitting the power. On the other hand, the petrol engine relies on a spark to explode the fuel mix and requires a backup system of leads, coils and pipes to work.

While the first public demonstration of what was essentially the early “bio diesel” engine occurred in 1900, it was to be the 1930s before modern biodiesel fuel was developed through the conversion of vegetable oils into fatty acid methyl esters.

Following the war period and during times of relative plenty, there was little real interest in biodiesel as an alternative. When petro diesel was readily available and quite cheap, vegetable oil based alternatives were not suitable. The vegetable oil in use had a much higher viscosity than petro diesel fuel and this led to experimentation and the development of what we now know as modern biodiesel.

Transesterification, the process of converting vegetable oils and making them available as a diesel fuel replacement was initially mooted by a Belgian inventor back in 1937, but it was not perfected until the 1980s, when complex socio-economic factors combined to draw our attention towards efficiency and energy security. At this time the process was perfected, making biodiesel fuel a very real alternative for environmentalists and those concerned about society.

In the 1990s, biodiesel became very acceptable in Europe, much to do with the very high prices of petro diesel. Biodiesel first went into production in the US in 1996, and during the decade to follow it has become more and more available and the subject of more interest in general.

Our society as a whole has become much more aware of damage caused to our environment through industrial and automotive pollution. While this awareness has been slowly emerging, costs associated with energy production have been rising inexorably. Gasoline prices in the US reached all-time highs within the last few years and this has caused consumers to really sit up and take notice of sustainability. Petro diesel costs more than regular gasoline and either method digs into the typical monthly budget cost, so alternatives that are seen to be better for the environment are becoming more popular.

There are exciting times ahead for biodiesel as we seek to constrain our spending, become more secure and focus on environmental issues. These days, homemade biodiesel has become an interesting alternative for independent people as they seek to become better stewards of the environment as well. It comes down to the simple equation of whether a sustainable fuel solution can be produced at a lesser cost than the readily available alternative, and in this case, biodiesel is most definitely the answer. It’s a real solution, and a way forward.

During the great recession, the auto industry in the USA took a hammering and this served to accelerate a trend toward more efficient cars. Those days of $.50 gasoline and huge, inefficient cars are certainly on the way out, and we have now seen that sky-high gas prices can plague us, even when recessionary forces are not apparent.

We are now likely to see more European-style cars on the road in the US. Europeans have long seen the value of efficient vehicles and the kind of car we see on American roads is almost unheard-of here. Following trends, we can imagine an influx of European vehicles including a much higher proportion of diesel engine vehicles as well. Diesel engine cars and trucks have a far better efficiency, even though the petro diesel required to fuel them can be a little bit more expensive.

If we can foresee a definite upward trend from the one in 20 or so diesel engine cars currently in the US toward the huge numbers popular in Europe, then we can see how biodiesel may have a considerable future there. Not surprisingly, biodiesel fuel is much more environmentally friendly, emits very little greenhouse gases and can be made from readily available materials. Vegetable oil or animal fats form the basis for making biodiesel and the process of transesterification is not that difficult to master.

Some of us have tried making homemade biodiesel in our garage and been pleasantly surprised. It is possible that you are considering a cottage industry and know that in your area there are no existing biodiesel distributors.

If you have an entrepreneurial bent, a commercial biodiesel operation may well be worth considering. Look at your supply chain and see where you could get the oils or fats, the caustic soda and the methanol in required quantities. Note that you will need more facility space and a more enhanced production process than where you are now, but the basic ideas remain the same.

Before you will be able to sell products commercially, you must ensure a good level of quality and purity, get certified and find the right operational business licenses. The good news is that local governments, being keenly aware of climate related news, may make grants and incentives available to you to help you fund your operation. It is very trendy to be sustainable these days and authorities realise that they should make public funding available to those who are following this trend.

Learn lessons from those who are already set up. Certain areas of the country have a higher concentration of biodiesel users, especially the Northwest and some parts of New England. Do your research well and why not profit from a trend which is yet to fully emerge? With so much change coming on the horizon, ever so much faster than we may realise, it only makes sense to become more sustainable as quickly as we can by turning to environmentally sound energy sources. Try biodiesel today, and see for yourself what the experience brings!

Dr. Rudolf Diesel invented the well known diesel engine, in the 1890s. The doctor developed the project as an answer to the basic steam engines that have been around since the auto was first invented. Steam engines were known to be dangerous and could be very unreliable, not like the diesel engine, which was then popular.

Unlike the petrol engine that was to gain wider acceptance, the diesel engine operates on the basis of compression – ignition. Air is drawn into the engine cylinder and when the piston rises it compresses this air, which automatically ignites, emitting the power. On the other hand, the petrol engine relies on a spark to explode the fuel mix and requires a backup system of leads, coils and pipes to work.

It is said that the public first got to see the early biodiesel engine at the turn of the century, but it was to be the 1930s before biodiesel fuel was developed, at the time when the oils were converted into fatty acid methyl esters.

Following the war period and during times of relative plenty, there was little real interest in biodiesel as an alternative. When petro diesel was readily available and quite cheap, vegetable oil based alternatives were not suitable. As the vegetable oil was subject to a higher viscosity, experimentation resulted in further development and the emergence of what we now know as biodiesel.

Transesterification, the process of converting vegetable oils and making them available as a diesel fuel replacement was initially mooted by a Belgian inventor back in 1937, but it was not perfected until the 1980s, when complex socio-economic factors combined to draw our attention towards efficiency and energy security. The process of transesterification was successfully matched at this time, making biodiesel fuel a real alternative to those concerned about the environment.

In the 1990s, biodiesel became very acceptable in Europe, much to do with the very high prices of petro diesel. Biodiesel first went into production in the US in 1996, and during the decade to follow it has become more and more available and the subject of more interest in general.

We now know how much damage we have caused to our environment through gas emission, industrial and automotive pollution. While this awareness has been slowly emerging, costs associated with energy production have been rising inexorably. Gasoline prices in the US reached all-time highs within the last few years and this has caused consumers to really sit up and take notice of sustainability. Petro diesel costs more than regular gasoline and either method digs into the typical monthly budget cost, so alternatives that are seen to be better for the environment are becoming more popular.

There are exciting times ahead for biodiesel as we seek to constrain our spending, become more secure and focus on environmental issues. Nowadays, homemade biodiesel is becoming a stepping stone for many as they seek to attain an element of independence and environmental stewardship. It comes down to the simple equation of whether a sustainable fuel solution can be produced at a lesser cost than the readily available alternative, and in this case, biodiesel is most definitely the answer. It’s a real solution, and a way forward.