Biofuels Power Corp. announced today that it has begun producing and selling electricity into the ERCOT Power Grid from its biodiesel powered generating plant in Oak Ridge North, Texas. The Oak Ridge North facility is the first power plant in the country to run entirely on biodiesel, a renewable carbon neutral fuel produced from vegetable oil and animal fat. Biofuels Power plans to build a series of biodiesel powered electric generating plants to serve residential and industrial customers in the Houston Metropolitan area.
The Oak Ridge North facility has a capacity of up to 5 Megawatts and uses three diesel powered Caterpillar generators that run exclusively on biodiesel fuel produced by the Safe Renewables refinery located within two miles of the power plant.
Biofuels Power is now constructing a larger turbine-based biodiesel power plant at the Safe Renewables’ refinery site. The second facility is expected to deliver over 10 Megawatts into the Entergy power grid
That is pretty awesome, I wonder if in the case of burning the fuel in an industrial turbine what the fuel quality needs to be like?
Posted by: Freddy B | March 09, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Lemme guess
They are using Palm Oil?
Posted by: GreyFlcn | March 09, 2007 at 05:23 PM
I'm not quite sure what's the point. For transportation you really want your fuel in convenient liquid form. For power generation isn't it preferable to make use of all the heat energy of the biomass, not just the parts which are in the form of oils?
Using all the heat energy would require a steam cycle, which has a bigger upfront cost. So why get into risky long-term investments in a scheme that probably doesn't even make sense economically without government support?
A diesel generator or turbine can be delivered in a shipping container and has a good resale value. Quickly buy one and reap those green coupons as long as they're coming!
Posted by: OrenT | March 10, 2007 at 06:43 AM
I wonder about the main modification of diesel engine if any? And does the natural acidity of biodiesel have any negative effect on the machinery? Something very important, cost of the biodiesel (MMBTU/$US)
Posted by: Ldiaz | March 13, 2007 at 05:33 PM
Oren T - Biodiesel doesnt have any acidity, natural or otherwise when made correctly. The diesel engine (post 1996) will work just fine on anything from 1% to 100% biodiesel - all with lower emissions.
Freddy B - Its not palm oil, or soybean oil - its from the USA and its as green as you can get.
Posted by: Green Machine | March 14, 2007 at 04:16 PM
if any one have genuine information about this biodiesel power plant,please forward the information to my mail id.
Posted by: sriram | October 03, 2007 at 03:17 PM
The Oak Ridge North power plant is actually powered by generators that run on chicken fat. Biodiesel is currently produced from a number of products, including soy bean oil, cotton seed oil, and yellow grease, among other things. Turning animal fat into Biodiesel is not new, it's just not (yet) being done to any great extent. The low, uneven quality of chicken fat (a factor when being considered as a biofuel stock,) is normally shipped to a few vendors in other states to be used in soaps, as filler in pet foods and a few other consumer products. Chicken Fat Biodiesel
Posted by: Alt Fuel Fan | December 12, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Biofuels Power is now running a 10MW frame 5 turbine at their Oak Ridge Facility. It seems to be running almost 24 hrs/day. They are working with a new company called Compendium Alternatives for their fuel supply. I can't find any info. on this company and the folks in Oak Ridge do not seem willing to offer any either. Rumor has it that this company has developed a low priced, turbine suitable green fuel available in large quantities. I don't understand why they would be so secretive if this product does exist. I would imagine the market for this fuel source could be huge. If anyone knows anything more about Compendium please post. I'm bending a few ears in Oak Ridge next week and hope to report on this potential fuel.
Posted by: Dave | March 09, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Hi
Amazing !!!!!
Is it give Sinewave Output ?
Waiting for response
Posted by: Yash Tamrakar | July 15, 2008 at 01:03 PM
give me brief technique how to connect the Generating generator with the Grid? if i get the interconnecting instruments that will help me understand the Technology
Posted by: jai | August 22, 2009 at 09:50 AM
what is the amount of co is released with smoke stack and how many barrarols do they burn in a day
we need the answer to this question
call 423 307 4939
Posted by: brian skoda | September 04, 2009 at 02:12 PM
Shashwat Jatropha is a renewable energy company. 10MWs to be produced from biodiesel is awesome!
My organisation is interested in such a capacity for supply to 18 cities in Nigeria. We would supply the biodiesel with any partner that would convert our inedible Jatropha Oil Seeds into biodiesel from our 7,000ha Jatropha Plantation. A contract to deliver 2,500MW of electricity to capital cities in Nigeria was announced.
Prospective Partners, let's talk!!
Posted by: Timi Simpson | November 19, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Sir,
Please tell me what is the difference between Bio diesel & Normal diesel.which is best for power generation.
Posted by: Tarun Goyal | January 05, 2011 at 06:49 AM
Is there a bio fuel technology available that can produce 200 MW power using. Interested to work on a partnership on a government initiative.
Posted by: Celestine Vincent | July 05, 2011 at 08:05 PM
My two cents, with average knowlege of biofuel technology: I believe there is some difference in "power generation." Biodeisel is slighlty more efficient. The "point" of all of this is that bioeisel doesn't add additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A promising feedstock for biodeisel is algea technology. Algea consumes Carbon Dioxide as it grows, and then all you need is sunlight and water after that. Theoretically, algea is "carbon neutral."
Posted by: Zach | July 11, 2011 at 02:16 AM