Top 10 Biodiesel Trends 2018: what’s up with the world’s favorite advanced biofuel?

#5 Market Development & Deployment

It’s been a strong year in Asian markets and vehicle adoption

Indonesia government to increase biodiesel mix to 25%

In May, we reported that the government is planning to issue a regulation on the production of 25% biodiesel (B25) early next year. Once issued, the policy will replace the current regulation on 20% biodiesel (B20) production. The 5% increase in biodiesel is expected to save US$1 billion in oil imports a year, in addition to supporting clean energy.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said his office was in the process of drafting the regulation and dealing with biodiesel mix technicalities. “We are currently discussing the regulation and the technicalities. This is aimed to make Indonesia [adopt] clean energy,” Jonan told The Jakarta Post. Jonan said given the current oil price, a five-percent increase in palm oil-based biodiesel in the diesel mix would cut the state’s expenditure by up to $1 billion a year from total oil imports.

New trucks & off-road equipment goes B20

In January, we reported on another news stream coming from the annual National Biodiesel Conferemnce in the US, Several automakers’ new 2018 diesel models were featured and a highlight was Ford’s first first-ever Ford F-150 diesel with a targeted EPA-estimated 30 mpg highway rating and  full B20 support. B20 is a fuel blend of 20 percent low-carbon biodiesel with petroleum diesel. The Ford F-150 joins the F-250/350/450 Super Duty and F-650/750 medium duty trucks as well as the Transit van to round out Ford’s strong line-up of diesel models supporting the use of B20 biodiesel blends.  In mid-January, Ford dealers begin taking orders for the 2018 F-150 with all-new 3.0-liter PowerStroke diesel engine, and deliveries begin this spring.

But let’s not overlook General Motors, which is also bringing a strong lineup of 20 different diesel vehicle options to market in the 2018 model year, spanning the car, truck, van and compact SUV categories.  General Motors supports B20 in all 20 of its diesel models.  One of GM’s flagship models, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup with a 6.6L Duramax turbo diesel engine, as well as the new 2018 Chevy Equinox SUV with 1.6L turbo diesel engine, was featured at the National Biodiesel Conference. 

And, the important off-road equipment market was highlighted by John Deere’s 5075E with a B20-supported PowerTech turbocharged diesel engine. John Deere was one of the first original equipment manufacturers to get involved with biodiesel, and this year the company is celebrating an important anniversary of its own – the 100th year since the first John Deere tractor was built. While equipment giant Caterpillar was showcasing a CAT 938M Small Wheel Loader with a high torque, low speed C7.1 ACERT engine in the Biodiesel Vehicle Technology Showcase.

Shanghai to boost biodiesel fueling stations 10-fold by year’s end

In February, we reported that Shanghai is pushing forward its biodiesel program by expanding the availability of the fuel to drivers via 200 fueling stations by year’s end. Currently, 21 biodiesel fueling stations operating in the city. The program seeks to eliminate the 30,000 metric tons of dirty, overly-used cooking oil known as a gutter oil which it believes would be achieved by scaling up the program 10-fold. At the moment, more than 2,000 trucks fuel up on B5 at the stations.

https://staging.biofuelsdigest.com/2018/02/19/shanghai-to-boost-biodiesel-fueling-stations-10-fold-by-years-end/

Biodiesel Coalition form in Missouri

In April, we reported that Missouri soybean farmers and biodiesel processors, distributors, and retailers have come together to launch a new partnership, the Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri, which aims to grow the use of the EPA-designated advanced biofuel. The Coalition partners will work to increase the availability of clean, renewable biodiesel across Missouri through promotion and training initiatives for distributors and retailers, as well as diesel vehicle drivers, community leaders and other interested Missourians. While Missouri ranks second nationally for biodiesel production, the state has only a few dozen retail locations offering biodiesel for sale, according to their press release on Missouri Soy.

Over the past three decades, Missouri soybean farmers have invested in the research and partnerships to transform biodiesel from an idea into a more than 200 million gallon success story. Today, biodiesel supports more than 2,500 Missouri jobs directly, according to their press release. Accounting for jobs created and supported indirectly by the biodiesel grows that jobs number to roughly 6,400. Biodiesel can be used in existing diesel engines without modification and is covered by all major engine manufacturers’ warranties.

https://staging.biofuelsdigest.com/2018/04/29/missouri-biodiesel-coalition-launched-to-expand-biodiesel-usage/

PCA pushes for 5% biodiesel blend to boost coconut oil

In May, we reported that  the Philippine Coconut Authority is calling on the National Biofuels Board to raise to five percent the Coco Methyl Ester content of biodiesel currently sold in the domestic market. The present blend of biodiesel now in the country consists only of two percent CME and 98 percent regular diesel.

“The increase could effectively support our coconut farmers and farmworkers whose livelihoods are threatened by the declining prices of crude coconut oil (CNO) in the international market,” said Romulo J. de la Rosa, PCA Administrator.

The price of CNO has declined by over 40 percent in the last few months because of a glut in supply in the world market of vegetable oils. From a high of US$ 1,850 per ton, it was selling at its 16-month low of US$ 1,100 per ton last week. The weakening copra and CNO world prices could further reduce the already low income of coconut farmers and farmworkers in the country.

https://staging.biofuelsdigest.com/2018/05/12/pca-pushes-for-5-biodiesel-blend-to-boost-coconut-oil/