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Biofuel: Biodiesel and Bioethanol Programs
| By pinoyfarmer | July 17, 2007 |  |
What is a Biofuel?
Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from organic matter. It is a renewable source of energy unlike any other resources such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels. One advantage of Biofuel in comparison to most other fuel types is its biodegradability, and thus rendering it relatively harmless to the environment if spilled. It is made from biomass and primarily used for motive, thermal and power generation, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS).
What is an Alternative Fuel?
Alternative fuels are fuels that are not composed substantially of petroleum and thus, are alternatives to petroleum. As a substitute to this “traditional” fuel, it is expected to yield significant energy security and environmental benefits to its consumers.
Methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols blended with gasoline, diesel or other fuels are alternative fuels. Those that act as substitutes to petroleum, such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, and coal-derived liquid fuels are also considered as alternative fuels, as are fuels derived from biological materials and electricity.
Is there any agricultural products that can be tapped for biofuel use?
Agricultural products specifically grown for use as biofuels include:
* Corn
* Soybeans
* Cassava
* Sugarcane
* Sweet Sorghum
* Coconut
* Jatropha
What is the Alternative Fuels Program?
The Alternative Fuels Program is one of the five (5) key components of the Arroyo Administration’s Energy Independence Agenda, which outlines the roadmap that will lead to the country’s attainment of 60% energy self-sufficiency by 2010.
The Biofuels Group of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is implementing a Biofuels Program to (1) reduce our dependence on imported oil and (2) provide cheaper and more environment-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. Through the said program, DA intends to tap the country’s domestic produce as viable sources of energy. The goal is to develop indigenous and renewable energy fuels for long term energy security, which will be a pillar for our country’s sustainable growth and (3.) shall be responsible for the formulation of the Biofuels Program of DA in compliance with the provisions of RA 9367 otherwise known as the Biofuels Act of 2006 as well as (4.) oversee the implementation of the DA Biofuels Program and provide the Office of the Secretary, advisory and recommendations on modalities of ensuring the sufficiency of feedstock supply for biofuels.
What is included in the program?
The Alternative Fuels Program has four (4) major subprograms, namely Biodiesel Program, Bioethanol Program, Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT), and Autogas Program. Other technologies advocated under the program are hybrid, fuel cell, hydrogen and electric vehicles.
Both Houses of Congress ratified the Biofuels Act of 2006 last November 29, 2006, which mandates a minimum 1% biodiesel blend and 5% bioethanol blend by volume in all diesel and gasoline fuels, respectively, being distributed and sold in the country. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Bill into law on January 12, 2007.
BIODIESEL PROGRAM
What is the Biodiesel Program?
The Biodiesel Program is one of the country’s alternative fuels program being promoted for energy independence. The program focuses on the development and utilization of domestically-produced biodiesel, which will be used to replace part of the country’s diesel requirements. The program is expected to reduce the Philippines’ dependence on imported oil, increase economic activity in the country, boost employment, and contribute to improving air quality by reducing toxic vehicular emissions in the air.
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable and biodegradeable fuel extracted from plant oils. It is a natural hydrocarbon with little sulfur content, and can be used in diesel engines (in lower blends) without any need for engine modification.
The Philippines is the first country to use coconut as a source or feedstock for biodiesel, thus the inception of the government’s Coco-Biodiesel Program. Coco-biodiesel, or Coco-Methyl Ester (CME), is produced from the transesterification of coconut oil, using methyl alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. This process forces out the unwanted components (such as glycerine) in the oil, which could cause the gumming and clogging of fuel systems and eventually lead to engine failure in the long term.
How do I differentiate CME from Filtered Coconut Oil?
CME’s esterification process removes the glycerine from the coconut oil. Filtered coconut oil, on the other hand, retains the glycerine in the oil, which will eventually cause filter clogging and injector coking in engines.
When purchasing CME, consumers are advised to buy only those products with a Certificate of Fuel Additive Registration (CFAR) and Certificate of Accreditation to Manufacture (CAM) issued by the DOE, to ensure the quality of the product.
CME, unlike filtered coconut oil, is also guided by Philippine National Standards (PNS 2020:2003), which ensure the quality of the biodiesel. The PNS is patterned after European and US standards and follows the fuel specifications set by the World Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC), an organization of engine and automobile manufacturers worldwide, which include the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Engine Manufacturers Association, and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
The WWFC standards were set to promote understanding of the fuel quality needs of motor vehicle technologies, as well as to harmonize fuel quality standards worldwide in accordance with vehicles’ needs. For alternative fuels, the WWFC has deemed a maximum blend of 5% biodiesel as safe for use on diesel engines, without need for any engine modification.
Why use CME?
Blending CME into diesel seeks to reduce importation of petroleum products, which will turn into foreign exchange savings for the country. Initial estimates show that with the use of 1% biodiesel blend, foreign exchange savings from the country’s transport sector alone will amount to about US$23 million in 2007. This figure is expected to increase to US$49 million once the 2% biodiesel blend is implemented two years after.
Aside from foreign exchange savings, CME also has the potential to improve engine performance and consequently, air quality. Based on tests conducted by the US-Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (US-DOE NREL), CME has a higher cetane number than diesel (70 and 55, respectively).
The high cetane number of CME is an indicator of good quality fuel for better engine performance, as it requires lower temperatures for faster ignition. This means CME provides more power, longer mileage and lower emission levels compared to diesel. CME is also safer to handle and store than diesel.
And because of CME’s unique properties such as lubricity, detergency and solvency, using CME will restore engine efficiency and optimize its combustion, translating to an average of 17% additional mileage for your vehicle.
On the environmental side, various research institutes (such as the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) at Nihon University in Tokyo, Japan and the Daeduk Institute of South Korea based in Japan) and many local field tests have proven that CME reduces emission of particulate matter (PM) by as much as 60%. Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) is also reduced by as much as 20% when using only a 1% CME blend in diesel fuel.
How safe is it to use CME?
Aside from meeting PNS and WWFC specifications, government already has direct experience using CME. In 2004 a pilot scale application of CME on government vehicles was implemented through Memorandum Circular No. 55, which mandated government agencies to incorporate 1% CME blend into their diesel fuel requirements.
1,479 government vehicles from 117 agencies have been using CME since 2004. Reports submitted by complying agencies confirmed test findings that CME improves engine performance, promotes mileage efficiency and reduces vehicular emissions even with just a 1% blend. These result to substantial monetary savings and contribute to the government’s energy conservation efforts.
Any diesel-powered vehicle can immediately use CME-blended diesel. At a maximum biodiesel blend of 5%, the WWFC says there is no need for engine modification .
What is the current demand for CME in the country?
At present, local demand for CME is estimated at 980,000 liters per annum, representing the CME requirements of government agencies’ vehicles (per Memorandum Circular No. 55). This is equivalent to 1.7% of the total CME production capacity.
What is the current supply of CME in the country?
Existing capacity for producing coco-biodiesel is estimated at 111 million liters per annum. This supply is from three (3) firms accredited by the DOE to produce CME, namely Chemrez Incorporated, Senbel Fine Chemicals, and Romtron. This combined capacity is enough to meet the projected 40 million liters of CME needed by the transport sector in 2007. There are four other CME producers in the process of acquiring DOE accreditation, which may have a combined total production capacity of 94 million liters per year.
Last May 3, 2006, Chemrez opened the first ever continuous biodiesel plant in Asia, which is located in Metro Manila.
Where can I get CME?
CME is sold nationwide in all Flying V gasoline stations, while Seaoil and Eastern Petroleum have been marketing CME in retail at their stations. To date, there has been no negative feedback reported to the DOE on the use and storage of CME, and there is actually an increase in the number of gasoline stations selling CME at present. Petron signed a distributorship agreement with Chemrez last March 1, 2006 for the retailing of Chemrez’s CME in Petron stations.
What other feedstock for Biodiesel is being considered by the government?
To ensure sustainability of the biodiesel program, the government is presently studying other feedstocks such as Jatropha Curcas or “Tuba-Tuba” as a potential source for local biodiesel production.
What is Jatropha Curcas?
Jatropha Curcas is a non-edible plant that grows mostly in tropical countries like the Philippines. Jatropha Curcas is resistant to drought and can easily be planted or propagated through seeds or cuttings. It starts producing seeds within 14 months, but reaches its maximum productivity level after 4-5 years. The plant remains useful for around 30-40 years.
As potential source for biodiesel, the Jatropha plant can produce an oil content of 30-58%, depending on the quality of the soil where it is planted. Its seeds yield an annual equivalent of 0.75 to 2 tons of biodiesel per hectare.
Based on a March 2006 study commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), potential areas for jatropha plantation in the Philippines is at 2 million hectares. If farmers will be encouraged to plant even in field boundaries or hedges and to practice intercropping, a total of 5 million hectares can be utilized for the jatropha plant.
With 1.1 million hectares dedicated to jatropha, 5.5 million metric tons (MMT) of biodiesel feedstock can be produced. Five million hectares can yield up to 25 MMT of biodiesel feedstock.
At present, a total of 360 hectares of land are planted with Jatropha in the country, found in the following areas: 200 hectares in General Santos, 27 hectares in Camarines Sur, 120 hectares in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, 5 hectares in Dacong Cogon, Negros Occidental, and aside from locally-grown jatropha in Quezon Province.
Why use Jatropha?
Benefits of jatropha as biodiesel include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as of the country’s oil imports. Local production of jatropha is also practical because as a non-food crop, it will not compete with food supply demands. It can also grow on marginal and degraded land, leaving prime agricultural lots for food crops while at the same time restoring the marginal and degraded land’s fertility.
What are the current government initiatives on Jatropha?
Government is taking careful, measured steps in exploring the use of jatropha as biodiesel feedstock, as the following initiatives show:
The PNOC EDC has a 5-hectare pilot plantation in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, which is being carried out in partnership with D1 Oils Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of D1 Oils Plc of the United Kingdom, and the Dacongcogon Producers’ Cooperative and Marketing Association, an agricultural cooperative based in Negros Occidental.
Preparatory phase of other PNOC-EDC jatropha field trials in its geothermal project sites in Leyte, Negros Oriental, Sorsogon and Kidapawan, North Cotabato are currently on-going for the agronomic requirements and site conditions of jatropha, while the DOE works to draft the implementing rules and regulations of the Biofuels Law.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also sent a team to India last April 2006 to study the different agriculture and production technologies of India, which is already using Jatropha for Biodiesel production. Other institutions, such as the University of the Philippines-Los Baños Agriculture Department, are also currently studying the different varieties of jatropha and its agriculture management, systems and production technology. Most recently, the PNOC Board approved the 2007 budget of the PNOC Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC), which will be allocated for the funding of jatropha mega nurseries, as investment share in the planned biodiesel refinery, and for research and development activities.
The DOE’s current research and development efforts are also focused on testing the oil production capacities of local jatropha varieties, to determine which of them will produce the most oil for biodiesel. Two local varieties of jatropha are now being studied for local propagation, namely “tuba-tuba” (jatropha curcas) and “tapul”.
The Technical Committee on Petroleum Products and Additives (TCPPA) has also started formulating the Jatropha biodiesel standards that will allow the high-quality local production of Jatropha biodiesel.
What are the other uses of Jatropha?
The use of jatropha on the village level is also a possible application, and government is considering the village-level production potential of jatropha for firing cooking stoves.
The “village-level production potential” refers to the process where the community could extract jatropha fuel without esterification, and directly use the extracted fuel oil to fire cooking stoves. The development of such an extraction technology, however, has yet to be assessed. Further study is also being done on this process and its impacts to health, as the toxicity of its emission has yet to be determined.
BIOETHANOL PROGRAM
What is the Bioethanol Program?
The Bioethanol Program is one of the country’s alternative fuels program being promoted for energy independence. The program aims to develop and utilize locally-produced bioethanol, which will reduce the country’s dependence on imported gasoline by providing an indigenous and renewable alternative. Just like the Biodiesel Program, it is expected to reduce the Philippines’ dependence on imported oil, increase economic activity in the country, boost employment, and contribute to improving air quality by reducing toxic vehicular emissions in the air.
What is Bioethanol?
Ethanol is a light alcohol which can be produced by fermenting carbohydrates, such as starch or sugar, in vegetable matter. Ethanol produced using this process is sometimes called bioethanol, to distinguish it from ethanol derived from other raw materials such as petroleum.
Bioethanol is currently being used in the following countries: Brazil, US, China, India and Thailand. The first three are the world’s top producers of bioethanol.
Other sources of bioethanol include corn, sugar, cassava, sweet sorghum, molasses, potatoes, cellulosic materials, etc. In the Philippines, possible sources of bioethanol include sugarcane, corn, cassava, and nipa.
Why use Bioethanol?
The use of bioethanol has been gaining worldwide acceptance for the following reasons:
It is a much cleaner fuel than pure gasoline. Ethanol’s high oxygen content reduces carbon monoxide levels and significantly reduces harmful exhaust emissions.
* It boosts the octane levels to help the car run smoothly. As an octane enhancer, ethanol can cut emissions of cancer-causing benzene and butadiene by more than 50%.
* It is biodegradable and has no harmful effects to the environment.
When the country finally starts producing bioethanol for the transport sector, a 5% bioethanol blend may translate to foreign exchange savings of US$168 million in 2009. It may increase to US$371 million in 2011 with the use of 10% bioethanol blend.
How safe is it to use bioethanol?
The World Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC), which was signed by major automotive manufacturers worldwide, recognizes the use of up to 10% bioethanol blend in gasoline. Studies have shown that bioethanol, at 10% blend or less could be used without modifying vehicle engines. Beyond 10%, adjustment to the vehicle is needed to prevent damage.
What is the projected demand for bioethanol in the country?
For the mandated 5% bioethanol blend, the country’s bioethanol requirement for the transport sector is estimated at 269 million liters in 2009, two years after the effectivity of the Biofuels Act. Four years from effectivity of the Biofuels Act, demand in the transport sector is projected to increase to about 594 million liters in 2011, reflecting the 10% bioethanol blend along with the projected increase in gasoline demand.
What is the current production of bioethanol in the country?
At present, there is no local production of bioethanol fuel. In the pipeline is the San Carlos Bioenergy project, scheduled to be operational by 2008, which has a capacity of 100,000 liters per day (or 30 million liters per year). At least seven other companies with a combined capacity of about 880,000 liters per day (264 million liters per annum), have also expressed interest in local bioethanol production.
If the country will rely only on sugarcane as feedstock for bioethanol production, the way to sustain bioethanol supply is by increasing sugarcane areas or improving farm productivity. Use of other feedstocks such as corn, cassava or sweet sorghum is already being considered to ensure sustainability of bioethanol supply.
Where can I get bioethanol?
E10 (10% bioethanol blend) is currently being sold in all Seaoil stations nationwide, priced at the same level as that of unleaded gasoline. Recently, Pilipinas Shell also launched its “Shell Super Unleaded E10″ gasoline in thirty four (34) stations in Metro Manila, priced 50 centavos cheaper than its regular unleaded gasoline.
Shell and Seaoil are currently sourcing their imported bioethanol from Australia and Brazil, respectively.
What are the current initiatives on Bioethanol?
Government has issued Executive Order No. 488, which allows importations under the Motor Vehicle Development Program of the government to have zero percent import duty on parts and components that will be used for the assembly and manufacture of vehicles powered by alternative fuels. Before the issuance of this EO, rates of import duty for the said motor vehicle parts and components range between %1 and 3%.
Definition of Terms
a) Bioethanol – refers to ethanol (C2H5OH) produced from biomass;
b) Biodiesel – refers to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) or mono-alkyl esters derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and other biomass-derived poils that shall be technically proven and approved by the DOE for use in diesel engines with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS);
c) Bioethanol fuel – a hydrous or anhydrous ethanol suitably denatured for use as motor fuel with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standard (PNS);
d) Biofuel – refers to bioethanol and biodiesel and other fuels made from biomass and primarily used for automotive, thermal and power generation with quality specifications in accordance with the PNS, and produced from at least 81% live organism.
e) Biomass – any organic matter, particularly cellulosic or lingo-cellulosic matter, which is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including trees, crops and associated residues, plant fiber, poultry litter and other animal wastes, industrial wastes, and biodegradable component of municipal solid waste.
f) Diesel – a refined petroleum distillate which may contain small amount of hydrocarbon or non-hydrocarbon additives to improve ignition quality or other characteristics, suitable for compression ignition engine and other suitable type of engine with quality specification in compliance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS).
g) Feedstock – an organic source or biomass used in the production of biofuels;
h) Gasoline – a volatile mixture of liquid hydrocarbon generally containing small amount of additives suitable for use as a fuel in spark-ignition internal combustion engine with quality specifications.
i) Renewable Energy Sources – are energy sources that do not have upper limit on the total quantity to be used. Such resources are renewable on a regular basis, and whose renewal rate is relatively rapid to consider availability over an indefinite period of time;
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