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The biodiesel plant being built in Calahorra begin production in January 2009 from soybeans, mostly, but is considering other alternatives, such as algae which are grown in Spain, to avoid having to depend on the supply of raw material from other countries.

According to data provided by the group EFE Energy Initiative, promoter of the plant, the sector of biofuels in Spain is working seriously for some months because all initial expectations that had been transformed. The project of this plant, which is the largest in Spain, has an investment of 70 million. The plant, whose works are 75% of its implementation, is built on a plot of 180,000 square meters, while 60,000 are occupied area. According to the company, works meet the deadlines and will be operational in January 2009 to begin producing some 250,000 tonnes of biodiesel per year and bill worth about 200 million euros annually. 75% of the production will be exported to Europe and the rest will go to the national market.

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Volkswagen began its journey towards the second generation of biofuels with intent to significantly reduce gas emissions from vehicles and fuel consumption. The strategy of the mark in terms of fuel and propulsion technology, pointing to a line aimed at achieving more sustainable mobility without compromising the pleasure nor satisfaction with the conduct.

The second generation of biofuels presents substantial improvements regarding the first. The SunFuel, for example, is a synthetic liquid fuel from biomass using partially or totally wide range of plants as raw material and cellulose ethanol, which is obtained from the chaff.

If the first generation of biofuels such as biodiesel or bioethanol, are derived from the seed or the flower of some plants, the second generation, use the whole plant, as well as straw, hay and wood in the manufacturing process.

The process of converting biomass to liquid, for example, increasing agricultural production by a factor of 3, without prejudice production for food and other products.

Volkswagen is working on agricultural research projects for the cultivation of energy crops and developing new agricultural techniques to increase productivity to levels higher than first-generation biofuels.

The potential quantity of biomass is virtually unlimited: the steady growth of plants around the planet far exceeds the demand for primary energy. Accordingly, the second generation of biofuels could replace a substantial part of conventional fuels.

VW is working closely with other car manufacturers, universities, biotech companies and manufacturers of plant and equipment, as well as petrochemical, in developing new sources of fuel.

Due to the close cooperation established with Choren Industries GmbH and other partners, Volkswagen developed a synthetic diesel fuel, called SunFuel. In this case, when using biomass as basic material, virtually closes the carbon cycle and can reduce greenhouse gases by more than 90%.

The department of technology petrol engines from Volkswagen, is also working with IOG Corporation, a company based in Ottawa, whose process of development of bio-ethanol offers a high potential in reducing CO2.

Volkswagen is prepared to invest significantly in the development and industrialization of the production of biofuels in the world, but according to its executives is essential for this, supported by a clear and consistent regulatory framework in the form of a fiscal policy aimed at CO2, which provides long-term security, and that the model also takes into account additional criteria of sustainability, to define fuel tax.

VW estimates that fuels that are produced so synthetic, as SunFuel and cellulose ethanol, is a milestone in the search for new propulsion technologies, because they have innovative processes of internal combustion, which presents three benefits. Mejoran la eficiencia del motor, y reducen las emisiones y el consumo de combustible. They improve the efficiency of the engine, and reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

The innovative concept of engine, called Combined Combustion System, brings together the advantages of diesel technology (a better economy in fuel consumption and a higher engine) with those of gasoline engines (lower emissions and higher performance).

Currently the widespread dissemination of synthetic fuels is at an early stage, and while the second generation of biofuels is not available on the market, Volkswagen will focus on the fuel mix.

VW expected that by 2010 their engines can run either on traditional fossil fuels such as fuels with renewable resources, such as those from biomass.

Volkswagen begins road to the 2nd generation biofuels. Biofuel, biomass

Virtually anyone can produce biodiesel because it is a simple process often compared to brewing. This makes the auto fuel possible for anyone. In addition, every day will invent new machines and methods for the development of biofuels.

The following is one of the methods used for the manufacture of biodiesel, this process usually produces good results, Obi, make good quality biodiesel requires study and practice.

Biodiesel is produced through a chemical reaction called transesterification, which means that the glycerol content in oil is replaced by an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. In our case using methanol and NaOH (caustic soda) or KOH (potassium hydroxide). This is just one possible method for the manufacture of biodiesel, but there are other ways and tricks to prepare good quality biodiesel. You can find out more about this in other sites related to this interesting topic.

The 3 Ingredients Needed

Oil
The first ingredient is the oil or fat. The vegetable oil that can be treated as waste in most homes or who can collect free of many restaurants. One can, of course, sunflower or soybean planting and after harvest, press to extract oil, as in many parts of the world which produces biodiesel.
Many farmers are now becoming economically independent regarding energy. They use biodiesel in tractors and other agricultural machinery and often are used surplus biodiesel to generate electricity.
People who prepare biodiesel on a larger scale are capable of using the fat used for frying, fish oil, animal fat and other kinds of oils. One advantage on the development of biodiesel is that you can make many different substances, mostly debris.

Alcohol
The second ingredient is alcohol. The Methanol is usually used for the development with recycled vegetable oils. When using new oils, can be mixed with ethanol, but ethanol is more difficult to manipulate, store methanol in our example.
It should be clarified that both methanol and ethanol are very hazardous materials. We must avoid inhalation and contact with skin and eyes. Always use gloves fit for the handling of these substances, protectors for the eyes and face mask, in addition to always work in well-ventilated.

Catalyst
They can be used both KOH (potassium hydroxide) as NaOH (sodium hydroxide or caustic soda). The advantage of KOH is that the glycerine which is the process is much less toxic when used NaOH. In this case, it is possible to prosecute the glycerine to produce an artificial fertilizer. The KOH also has the advantage that dissolves much better in methanol. However, the advantage of NaOH is that it is very simple and cheap to obtain because it is used as normalmante uncover plumbing and in turn is easy to manipulate. That is why it is used as an example.
Be sure to use NaOH with a purity of at least 96%. The purity KOH that is quite difficult to find, but one of between 92% and 85% can work well. Both NaOH and KOH are very dangerous chemicals. Please keep the above precautions when using these chemicals.

The International Congress Obtaining Biomass and Biofuels Production from Algae, organized by the University of Alicante and Global Energy, has submitted its full programme of lectures. Researchers and entrepreneurs internationally recognized discuss the feasibility of the real and effective that many consider “a real substitute for oil”: algae. The conference will be configured for twelve lectures given by some of the most recognized experts in the field.  Researchers and entrepreneurs with extensive experience addressed in depth not only the scientific aspects, but also technical feasibility and viability of projects on corporate micro and macro both for the production of biodiesel and bioethanol for.

Scientists great career as Anastasios Melis of the University of Berkeley (California), an international expert in the study of algae as producing hydrogen for electricity generation, John Munford, an independent British scientist, or the Spaniards Eduardo Ferrandis and Cristian give Gomis their latest discoveries.  The doctor Ferrandis is director of investigations made by the University of Alicante, center pointer in this area and Cristian Gomis is the scientific director of the Spanish BFS, the first company in the world to produce biopetróleo from algae.

The entrepreneurial vision is supplemented by representatives of companies like Biofields (Mexico), Origin Oil Inc. (USA) u Oil Fox SA (Argentina). (USA) or Fox Oil SA (Argentina).  Also present will be representatives from companies offering advisory services or financial advisory firms in this sector, such as the Dutch multinational Kema Energy Consulting.

Finally, concern and environmental protection will be reflected prominently in the paper developed by the Spanish representation of the Programme Against Climate Change led by Al Gore.

The International Congress Obtaining Biomass and Biofuels Production from Algae, which is projected an attendance of over 250 congressmen, will be held at the University of Alicante, on 30 and 31 of October 2008. A unique opportunity to be aware of the real and effective feasibility of what many call “a real substitute for oil”: algae.

About GLOBAL ENERGY

Global Energy is the division of events BRENT & TRADING (B & T energy consulting) consultancy firm specializing in companies operating in the oil sector (transactions to wholesale warehouses and Prosecutors, Service Stations, etc.). And to firms who import, store and market biofuels.

Global Energy organizes trade fairs, congresses and conferences on international arena aspects of general interest to the energy sector.  Emphasize the Expo International Congress of biodiesel and bioethanol “BIO.OIL”, the event already made three editions and is considered concerning the professional sector of biofuels in Spain and South America. They have also been major conferences held this year on Jatropha curcas (Madrid, May 2008) and Biogas (Madrid, in June 2008).

Among the upcoming projects to highlight the Expo-Congress on Solar Energy PROTOSOLAR (Madrid, September 2008), the International Congress Obtaining Biomass and Biofuels Production from Algae (Alicante, October 2008), the Expo-Congress Building Efficient Intelligent and EDIFINTEL (Barcelona, November 2008) or the Fair Business Products and Services in the oil sector OIL-GAS, only fair Spanish oil sector, to be held in Madrid in June 2009.

More information:
Jose Garcia Comesaña
GLOBAL ENERGY Communication and Marketing Manager B & T / GLOBAL ENERGY
Manuel Núñez 4, 4 Planta 36203, Vigo Manuel Nunez 4, 4 Floor 36203, Vigo
Telf: 902 362605 / +34 986 222403 / Móvil: +34 690 740430 Tel: 902 362605 / +34 986 222403 / Mobile: +34 690 740430
E-mail: comunicacion@globalenergy.es E-mail: comunicacion@globalenergy.es
www.globalenergy.es / www.brent.es www.globalenergy.es / www.brent.es

The Government of Indonesia, the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, studying law by imposing gradually from September and consumption of biofuels to reduce their emissions and combat climate change, official sources reported today.

The project of the Department of Energy Resources Indonesian raises set as mandatory use of biodiesel and bioethanol in Jakarta first and then progressively across the country.

It is expected that the new regulation also set at around 3 percent the minimum proportion of non-fossil fuel that must be biodiesel and bioethanol.

The initiative is at an early stage of development where they are also involved business associations and collectives of national energy sector.

At present, the state oil company Pertamina sells indonesia biofuels which have only one percent of non-fossil fuels.

The company began selling this type of fuel considered more environmentally friendly in 2006 with a 5 per cent of non-fossil components, but the hike of palm oil, the main raw material for fuel, did state that the company reduced the ratio to 2, 5 per cent first and later to one percent.

Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil this year will produce about 18.6 million tonnes of this raw material, which will be around one million kilolitres biodiesel.

In addition, Indonesia has the capacity to produce around 110,000 kilolitres bioethanol a year.

However, the country consumed only 16,000 kilolitres of 1,000 kilolitres biodiesel and bioethanol in 2007.

Source: Terra current (actualidad.terra.es)