This Information was obtained from Clean Cities Fact Sheet Dated: April 2008
www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities
Biodiesel Blends
Biodiesel is a
domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from new and
used vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant grease. Biodiesel’s physical properties are similar to those of
petroleum diesel, but the fuel significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions
and toxic air pollutants. It is a biodegradable and cleaner-burning alternative
to petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel can be blended and used in many different concentrations. They include B100 (pure biodiesel), B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel), B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% petroleum diesel), and B2 (2% biodiesel, 98% petroleum diesel). The most common biodiesel blend is B20, which qualifies for fleet compliance under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992.
Can I use B20 in my
vehicle’s diesel engine?
As long as the
vehicle was manufactured after 1993, biodiesel can be used in diesel engines
and fuel injection equipment with little impact on operating performance. If
your vehicle is older than that, beware. The engine could be assembled with
incompatible elastomers, which can break down with repetitive high-blend
biodiesel usage.
Regardless of your
vehicle’s age,
it’s a good idea to check original engine manufacturer (OEM) recommendations
before using biodiesel. Most OEMs approve blends up to B5 in their vehicles.
Some approve blends up to B20 if the fuel meets certain specifications and
standards. One even approves B100 in certain types of farm equipment.
If you can’t find OEM recommendations, check your engine manufacturer’s Web site or speak with a dealer to determine the biodiesel blend that’s right for your vehicle. In addition, you can find general information on the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Web site (www.biodiesel.org/resources/fuelfactsheets/standards_and_warranties.shtm). Manufacturer-specific information is also available.
Is biodiesel readily
available?
Biodiesel is available
in all 50 states. NBB tallies show that 450 million gallons of biodiesel were
sold in 2007, up substantially from 2 million gallons in 2000.2 As of January
2008, the United States had an annual production capacity of more than 2.2
billion gallons.
The number of retailers, petroleum distributors,
and biodiesel distributors offering biodiesel blends continues to grow.
According to the Alternative Fuels Station Locator tool on the Alternative
Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) Web site, there are more than
800 biodiesel fueling sites across the country. To look up biodiesel stations
in your area, visit http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator
Will biodiesel perform as well as diesel?
Testing results of engines operating on B20 show similar fuel consumption, horsepower, and torque to those operating on conventional diesel. Biodiesel has some additional desirable characteristics, including a higher cetane number (a measure of the ignition value of diesel fuel) and higher lubricity (the capacity for reducing friction) than U.S. diesel fuel. B20 also has an energy content between those of #1 and #2 diesel fuels.
Will biodiesel perform well in cold weather?
Just
like common #2 diesel, certain high-freezing-point compounds in biodiesel will
crystalize in very cold temperatures. Pure biodiesel crystalizes in warmer
temperatures than #2 diesel fuel, but B20 blends are administered with the same
fuel management techniques as #2 diesel. As temperatures get colder, proper
blending for B20 becomes more critical, and the fuel’s sensitivity to process
variations increases. Blends of 5% biodiesel and below have a small impact on
cold-flow properties (measures of low temperature operability). For more information
on cold-flow properties and biodiesel handling, download Biodiesel Handling and
Use Guidelines from http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs.
Will biodiesel plug my vehicle filters?
Biodiesel
has a solvent effect proportionate to the amount of biodiesel in the fuel. For
example, B100 has a higher solvent effect than B20. This will clean your
vehicle’s fuel system and could release deposits accumulated on tank walls and
in pipes from previous diesel fuel usage.
The
release of deposits in higher biodiesel blends may initially clog filters, so
you should be proactive in checking for and replacing clogged fuel filters.
Once the build-up is eliminated, return to your regular replacement schedule.
This issue is less prevalent with B20 and lower blends. There is no evidence
that lower-blend levels plug filters.
Will
long-term biodiesel use affect my engine?
Studies of B20 and
lower blends have not shown long-term effects for in-specification biodiesel.
In general, B100 can soften and degrade certain types of elastomers and natural
rubber compounds over time. Using higher-level blends (above B20) can impact
fuel system components (primarily fuel hoses and fuel pump seals) that contain
elastomer compounds incompatible with biodiesel. The effect is lessened as the
biodiesel blend level is decreased.
Can I use vegetable oil in my diesel engine?
Straight vegetable oil is not the same as biodiesel and
is generally not considered an acceptable fuel for large-scale or long-term
use. It is not a legal motor fuel, it doesn’t meet biodiesel fuel
specifications and quality standards, and it is not registered with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Is biodiesel cleaner burning than regular diesel?
The use of biodiesel in conventional diesel engines
substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide
(CO), sulfates, polycyclic aromatic HCs, nitrated polycyclic aromatic HCs, and
particulate matter (PM). The reductions of these compounds increase as the
amount of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel increases. B100 provides the best
emission reductions, but lower-level blends also provide benefits. B20 has been
shown to reduce PM emissions by 10%, CO by 11%, and unburned HCs by 21% (see
Figure 1). Studies of oxides of nitrogen emissions have provided contradictory
results, and additional testing and analysis is ongoing.
Biodiesel use also reduces greenhouse gas emissions because the carbon dioxide released in biodiesel combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide sequestered while growing the feedstock. B100 use reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 75% compared to diesel. Using B20 reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 15%.
Does
biodiesel need to meet any standards?
Biodiesel used in blends should meet specification D6751-07B, a standard set by ASTM International to ensure the quality of U.S. biodiesel used in blends. Biodiesel meeting this standard is legally registered as a fuel blendstock or additive with the EPA. As of January 2008, ASTM International was developing specifications explicitly for biodiesel blends.
Are incentives and credits available for biodiesel?
Tax Incentives
Congress has put in place a number of tax incentive programs that positively impact the biodiesel industry. Following is information pertaining to several of those programs.
Volumetric ‘Blender’ Tax Credit
The IRS has published on its
website the various forms associated with the volumetric biodiesel
credit. These forms (including Form 637, Form 720, Form 8849, Form
8864, and Form 4136) are available by going to the Forms and
Publications page of the IRS website, www.irs.gov. A direct link to that page is: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/lists/0,,id=97817,00.html.
Form 637 is the registration application that all biodiesel producers and blenders must complete. (Note: Becoming officially registered may take a considerable amount of time. Planning accordingly to meet the deadlines prescribed by the IRS is critical. For information about the registration process and timing, contact your local IRS Field Office.)
Form 720 is the Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. Entities utilize this form to report and pay federal excise tax.
Form 8849 is a general claim form for periodic refunds of federal excise tax.
Form 8864 is a claim form for credits claimed as income tax credits.
Form 4136 credit for federal tax paid on fuels.
Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Tax Credit
The Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Tax Credit was established as
part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This tax credit program is a
volumetric based income tax credit for the production of agri-biodiesel
(biodiesel made from first-use vegetable oils and first-use animal
fats).
Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure Tax Credit
The Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure Tax Credit was
also established as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This tax
credit program provides a tax credit for the installation of certain
qualifying fueling infrastructure that dispense alternative fuel,
including biodiesel blends B20 and higher.2010. More info at http://www.biodiesel.org/news/taxincentive/
Visit the Biodiesel section of the AFDC at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/progs/more_news.php
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