Fish Farm Taps Biodiesel From Fish Guts

[daniel]

Interesting...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/honduran_tilapi.php

commercial fish farm in El Borboton, Honduras is using fish guts--heads, skins, and internal organs--to produce biodiesel. Instead of dumping what's left after filleting for commercial sale, Saint Peter's cooks the parts down to produce 300,000 gallons of fish oil fuel. The fuel is then used to run the 10 trucks and eight buses that bring employees to work.

"The oil comes in with water in it and has to be separated by raising it to 90 degrees C (194 degrees F) in a tank, where we add methanol, glycerin and other chemicals to make biodiesel," says Juan Munoz, who heads up the workers who produce the fuel.

"We produce annually 300,000 gallons (1.135 million liters) of biodiesel, which costs nearly a dollar less than fossil fuels per gallon," adds plant manager Israel Snir. Via ::Yahoo News

[Murray]

Interesting stuff Daniel. I don't really understand why there is not more Bio-diesel used. A friend told me that the use of it in Australia is not legal ! Is that true ?
It would appear that it is a great solution to fuel needs.

[Quietly]

Bio Diesel is legal and the groups behind it are doing there best to keep it a viable option here in Australia http://www.biodiesel.org.au/

Quietly :)

[daniel]

I don't think it is illegal as I am pretty sure i read an article about BP using Indonesian Palm oil to produce a product (not a good call). I also have a friend who is in the police force who uses it in his 4WD. I dont really know.

It may be illegal to produce your own biodiesel in your back yard, but I know of a few people who do, and it is a fairly simple process. There are plans everywhere for kits. eg http://www.off-grid.net/index.php?p=336 I like the thought of making fuel for my car from old cooking oil from the local fish and chip shop.

The reason i was so interested in the whole, fish waste to Biodiesel thing, is that there are some very alarming trends appearing in the name of green fuel sources. Deforesting Indonesia (and orang-utan habitats) in order to gather cheap palm oil doesn't sound very green to me. Using waste products does.

This whole issue is somewhat similar to the problems with ethanol production. Its never easy is it.

Here is a link. for anyone who is interested in the problems with palm oil biodiesel. Choose the right biofuel or the orang-utan gets it (http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/biofuels-green-dream-or-climate-change-nightmare-20070509)

Sorry if this is a bit of a green rant. I know this isn't the right forum for this.

[Murray]

I spent a number of years in PNG and witnessed thousands of acres of prime forest bulldozed and burned to make way for oil palm at Alotau (Hagita to be precise).
The timbers , rosewood, cedar and so many other highly valuable timbers were just burned where they fell. It was supposed to be a project that would provide employment for the locals. Trouble is, they were not interested in employment.

[Murray]

The other day I had a drive in my mates old diesel ute. Towed a load of grow beds to the transport company.

The mate makes his own bio diesel. The ute ran really well. He says it costs him between 40 and 50 cents a ltr.