Is it viable to replace diesel with biodiesel at Princeton?

What uses diesel at Princeton? Shuttles Tractors Mowers Leaf Vacs Brush Bandit Trucks

What is diesel? Diesel is a petroleum based fuel that is non- biodegradable Used in vehicles such as buses, shuttles, and other equipment and machinery on campus

What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is a fuel composed of monoalkyl esters of long chains of fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel is biodegradable. Biodiesel and Biodiesel blends can be used in the same equipment, machinery, buses and shuttles as diesel

What is a Biodiesel blend? B20: B20 is a biodiesel blend composed of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. B100: B100 is biodiesel in its pure form without being mixed with petroleum diesel.

Environmental advantages of biodiesel compared to diesel The use of B20 and B100 reduce air emissions from vehicles: –Particulates: 15% and 70% –Hydrocarbons: 10% and 40% –Sulfates: 20% and 100% –Carbon Monoxide: 10% and 50%

Environmental disadvantages of biodiesel compared to diesel The use of B20 and B100 increase air emissions from vehicles: –Nitrogen oxides: 2% and 9% –Nitrogen oxides can be regulated through technology and additives to biodiesel blends Construction and storage of biodiesel in underground tanks

Economic disadvantages of biodiesel compared to diesel The use of biodiesel would require the construction of a storage tank Biodiesel blends are currently more expensive than diesel fuel –More expensive by approximately 30 cents per gallon

Biodiesel problems B20 and B100 both freeze at higher temperatures than petrodiesel Biodiesel loosens deposits on gas tank walls and pipes potentially causing filter clogs Biodiesel could degrade rubber compounds impacting fuel hoses and pumps

Biodiesel solutions Construction of above ground storage tank perhaps located where the new maintenance shop was to be built Wholesale cost of biodiesel cheaper than retail price of diesel B20 is less problematic than B100 for engine and machinery modifications, although B100 can be used in most machinery built after 1994

Recommendations Perhaps a pilot project could be run testing the use of biodiesel (B20) in one or two pieces of equipment, machinery, or vehicles