Review of Diesel - Biodiesel Fuel Blend Standards

[Tony From West Oz Vice Chairperson of WARFA Find all posts View Profile Close Tony From West Oz]

http://www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/fue...sion-paper.pdf
Vehicle manufacturers are pushing for a maximum 5% biodiesel in blends, Green (tinged) fuel companies are promoting and selling B20, others want B50.

Do we wish to consider the implications of this review?
Can we find out what others are promoting and determine our position in relation to these?
This is something which we need to research and take a position on. There are some members of this forum who purchase biodiesel and/or diesel - biodiesel blends.
This also affects the general public, who may consider that biodiesel is a poor fuel if they experience clogged fuel filters.

Your comments please:

Regards,
Tony

[Robert Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Robert]

Re: Review of Diesel - Biodiesel Fuel Blend Standards

A very good point that you have brought up Tony. I've not properly read through the discussion paper yet, but I have been sent an email from the BAA seeking discussion/comments from a small group of industry folk. I'll cut & paste some bits from this email below:

The issue for DEH is gaining support for the fuel from consumers, OEMs and more importantly, being able to control (prosecute) producers or blenders that put components other than Biodiesel and Petrodiesel/heating oil (for cold flow) into blends and/or putting high biodiesel blends into the retail market without informing the consumer.
There has already been instances where off-spec biodiesel and blends has gone to market and DEH has not been able to take action. Biodiesel producers, Fuel companies, consumers and engine manufactures have all approached DEH at some stage asking them to do something about it. The discussion paper has been the response.
The response from the industry has to do the following:

• Provide industry quality management and self regulation
• Self regulation has to have enforceable controls - removal or suspension from the program until back in compliance
• laws and regulations allowing DEH to take action for continued breaches of quality or deceptive actions
• Tools to allow better management by industry and easily enforceable action by DEH.
• Methods to educate the consumers and OEM that the steps have been taken and their benefits
• The actions of a few are creating these issues for the whole industry.

A suggested position to recommended from the Biodiesel producers should have the following:

• Industry self regulation through a quality management program with enforceable controls
• Exemption of density for biodiesel blends with diesel - up to the biodiesel density limits
• Mandatory labeling for all blends of biodiesel Retail: -
• B5 - Contains biodiesel
• B20 - Contains up to 20% biodiesel
• B100 - Pure biodiesel
• List of benefits of biodiesel
• Notice for users to check with their engine manufacturer on warranty support
• Reporting of the CFPP where it is higher than petrodiesel sold in the same area
• Reporting of the CFPP of B100 in all cases
• Appropriate test methods made available to blenders and DEH for immediate determination of blend level
• Penalties for knowingly providing blends above those shown on the label
• B20 Specification for the purposes of OEM support for retail sale.

- Option 1 & 2 are unacceptable as they define a blend of up to B5 as being diesel, eroding an already reduced position in regard to excise.
- B5 has its place in the retail market for the Petroleum industry general market.
- up to B20 blends that meet the diesel specification should also be available to market, they are unlikely to be available through general retail distribution due to constraints of production capacity.
- Strict B20 blend standard imposes an additional testing requirement for manufactures and blenders - increasing the cost of the fuel. This is redundant as the inputs are known and there are a couple of test points
that are relevant and should be managed - CFPP, Biodiesel content and Filterability.

[Captain Echidna Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Captain Echidna]

Re: Review of Diesel - Biodiesel Fuel Blend Standards

if you wish to print it, probably the first 20 pages are a good start.

It seems to have a no greater than specified biodiesel content, but less is ok. Of course this may allow "greenwash" companies to say its b20 (or even B100) but in fact be B0