4 Current Status of the Biodiesel Industry and Its Assessment …
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With the pressing energy crisis and environmental problems in recent years, people are urged to search for clean, renewable, and environment-friendly energies.
With similar combustion and dynamic characteristics compared to mineral diesel,
biodiesel stands out for its environment-friendly nature. It is drawing attention from
environmentalists and energy professionals, who are promoting the research and
development of biodiesel to a new level.
(1) Status quo of biodiesel development in China
The R&D of biodiesel in China started later than many developed countries. It first
began the biodiesel experiments with rapeseed oil and Swida wilsoniana fruit oil in
1981. In recent years, research institutes and universities also joined this effort. The
biodiesel production processes using rapeseed oil, soybean oil, and waste frying oil
have been developed, respectively. The Chinese government has formulated a series
of preferential policies and measures to support the R&D of biodiesel, which boosts
the rapid development of the biodiesel industry.
It has been reported that the raw material of biodiesel in China mainly comes
from waste oils and fats, and oil plant seeds. More specifically, waste oils and fats
include: (1) waste frying oil produced from cooking; (2) animal oils and fats produced from baking; (3) animal oils and fats made from waste and scrap of animal
products produced during their process at normal temperature; (4) waste cooking
oil consisting mainly of grease separated from leftovers; (5) “gutter oil”, or waste
oils discharged into the sewage system during dishwashing; (6) condensate oil of
the kitchen ventilation system, including household range hood condensate grease
or that of restaurants; (7) acidified oil residue.
As to the biodiesel industry in China, its large-scale production and application
is just getting started. It is not mature yet to use biodiesel as the primary fuel. At
present, manufacturers in China use their own industrial standards. China has placed
biodiesel development in its national energy development plan with a focus on its
long-term use. In order to strengthen the production and management of biodiesel,
it is essential to formulate relevant national standards.
In China, biodiesel production is characterized by small-scale and insufficient
follow-up development. Since China has not adopted a tax exemption policy on
biodiesel, its production cost remains high (75% of which is the raw material cost)–
about three times than that of mineral diesel, making large-scale production an unrealistic option. Therefore, most research institutes and enterprises are aiming at developing biodiesel production technologies that use inexpensive raw material. Have
all developed relevant technologies with independent intellectual property rights.
Beijing Sustainable Development Center is working with the China University of
Petroleum to transform waste cooking oil in Beijing restaurants into biodiesel. Jiangxi
Jubang Chemicals Co., Ltd. uses genetically modified soybean imported from the US
and Chinese rapeseed oil to produce biodiesel. Its production facilities with a capacity of 10 × 10
4 tons/year. School of Life Science, Sichuan University is attempting
to establish production facilities with a capacity of 2 × 10
4 tons/year using Jatropha
Curcas oil as raw material.
111
With the pressing energy crisis and environmental problems in recent years, people are urged to search for clean, renewable, and environment-friendly energies.
With similar combustion and dynamic characteristics compared to mineral diesel,
biodiesel stands out for its environment-friendly nature. It is drawing attention from
environmentalists and energy professionals, who are promoting the research and
development of biodiesel to a new level.
(1) Status quo of biodiesel development in China
The R&D of biodiesel in China started later than many developed countries. It first
began the biodiesel experiments with rapeseed oil and Swida wilsoniana fruit oil in
1981. In recent years, research institutes and universities also joined this effort. The
biodiesel production processes using rapeseed oil, soybean oil, and waste frying oil
have been developed, respectively. The Chinese government has formulated a series
of preferential policies and measures to support the R&D of biodiesel, which boosts
the rapid development of the biodiesel industry.
It has been reported that the raw material of biodiesel in China mainly comes
from waste oils and fats, and oil plant seeds. More specifically, waste oils and fats
include: (1) waste frying oil produced from cooking; (2) animal oils and fats produced from baking; (3) animal oils and fats made from waste and scrap of animal
products produced during their process at normal temperature; (4) waste cooking
oil consisting mainly of grease separated from leftovers; (5) “gutter oil”, or waste
oils discharged into the sewage system during dishwashing; (6) condensate oil of
the kitchen ventilation system, including household range hood condensate grease
or that of restaurants; (7) acidified oil residue.
As to the biodiesel industry in China, its large-scale production and application
is just getting started. It is not mature yet to use biodiesel as the primary fuel. At
present, manufacturers in China use their own industrial standards. China has placed
biodiesel development in its national energy development plan with a focus on its
long-term use. In order to strengthen the production and management of biodiesel,
it is essential to formulate relevant national standards.
In China, biodiesel production is characterized by small-scale and insufficient
follow-up development. Since China has not adopted a tax exemption policy on
biodiesel, its production cost remains high (75% of which is the raw material cost)–
about three times than that of mineral diesel, making large-scale production an unrealistic option. Therefore, most research institutes and enterprises are aiming at developing biodiesel production technologies that use inexpensive raw material. Have
all developed relevant technologies with independent intellectual property rights.
Beijing Sustainable Development Center is working with the China University of
Petroleum to transform waste cooking oil in Beijing restaurants into biodiesel. Jiangxi
Jubang Chemicals Co., Ltd. uses genetically modified soybean imported from the US
and Chinese rapeseed oil to produce biodiesel. Its production facilities with a capacity of 10 × 10
4 tons/year. School of Life Science, Sichuan University is attempting
to establish production facilities with a capacity of 2 × 10
4 tons/year using Jatropha
Curcas oil as raw material.