Make your own biodiesel at home
A British company called Etruk is building a range of small scale biodiesel reactors that range from a 40L unit suitable for people with a single car to fuel up to an 1,150L unit that's suitable for businesses or farms. The reactors can process either virgin feed stocks like straight vegetable oil or used vegetable oils. The company also offers training on how to use the equipment as well as safe handling of the fuel.
Prices range from about $1,800 for the smallest unit up to about $4,000 for the biggest setup. So far there's no information on US availabiltiy and it may in fact be illegal to use this device here. The EPA has made it clear that it's a a violation to even use waste veggie oil as a fuel without a license.
[Source: Etruk]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
austin 2:56PM (8/08/2007)
Actually, there is a company in the US doing this. There is a video about it posted at CarDevotion.com.
The Video is called "Going Green with Veggie Power"
http://www.cardevotion.com/Features/greencars.asp
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Jack S. 7:18PM (8/08/2007)
looks like a ripoff to me, like most of the 'commerical' offerings in biodiesel processing market. There's about $500 worth of equipment there (that includes retail markup).
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Chris M 6:17PM (8/08/2007)
It isn't the EPA that has a legal quibble with home biodiesel - the EPA would only be concerned about pollution produced by burning fuels, or dumping of toxic wastes.
It is the Transportation Dept. that is concerned about paying proper fuel taxes, and then only for on-road use. If you were to sell the fuel, there may be local sales taxes to be paid, and possibly income tax to the IRS.
So, as long as all the appropriate taxes are paid, and you aren't spewing smoke or dumping toxic wastes, there should be no legal problems.
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Thomas Brown 8:06AM (8/09/2007)
DON'T FCUKING BUY ANY PLASTIC PROCESSORS!!!!!! THEY ARE $HIT AND WILL FAIL!!!!! ALL METAL PROCESSORS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT!!!!
Seriously, the plastic used in these processors is cheap crap that melts at about 150*F. Biodiesel is heated to 130*-140*F. Yea, a little overheating and your flammable liquid is all over the floor with plastic mixed in.
The mark-up on this $hit is huge too.
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Dan 7:02PM (8/12/2007)
Biodiesel is a ripp off. Just ask Willie Nelson.
-Dan Grosp
http://www.grosp.com
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