Language:

Supported by:

Update me about new download/training materials

SVO/PPO Pure Plant Oil

top

INTRO

Plant oils are a fuel made by crushing and filtering oil-based crops such as rapeseed, palm or nuts. The neat oil is then ready to be used in some diesel engines.
Pure plant oil was originally used by Rudolf Diesel, back in 1912, in his first successful ignition engine, which ran on peanut oil.
The Pure Plant Oil, as created by nature, can be used in modified diesel engines. No chemical process is required, and the simple and cheap process to press and filter the plant oil is suitable for decentralized production. Pure Plant Oil (33,7 MJ/liter) contains less energy per liter (-4%) than fossil diesel (35,10 MJ/liter), and Biodiesel (32,60 MJ/liter) contains less energy per liter (-3%) than Pure Plant Oil. The natural content of oxygen in both Biodiesel and Pure Plant Oil compensates partly or completely for the reduced energy content by a more efficient combustion, which also leads to a reduced emission: Both Biodiesel and Pure Plant Oil is litteraly sulphur free.

How do I adapt my vehicle to run on pure plant oil?
In the UK, manufacturers will not yet warrant their vehicles for PPO, as the engines would require modification (generally a heater on the fuel line to help the product flow). The PPO suppliers can advise where your vehicle may be converted.

SUPPLY

Normally road vehicles may not be bought ready to be used with Straight Vegetable Oil SVO. Vehicles may be equipped to run straight vegetable oil SVO with engine insurance given by third parties. If you own a big fleet you have the position to discuss warranty issues with the supplier avoiding this insurance.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

When using plant oils, the specific level of reduction in carbon dioxide emissions depends entirely upon the manufacturing process but will almost certainly produce fewer emissions than other forms of biodiesel.

ADVANTAGES:

o Depending on the production method, gives a carbon dioxide reduction (well to wheel) greater than biodiesel
o No chemical process is required
o Sulphur free
o Availability of resources
o Increased employment in rural areas
o Harmless to environment and health

DISADVANTAGES:

The biggest barrier to the production of PPO vehicles is currently cost.
There is also the problem of a lack of an established refuelling network.
PPO's do not currently meet EN14214 standard.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Germany

For the German market a quality standard exists (RK-Qualitätsstandard), (LTV) which PPO must meet. This is not a problem for pure cold pressed rape seed oil, but may be a problem for some oils available in the market pressed at higher temperatures. Thus a larger scale adoption would require a market separation of the different oils, to ensure a consistent quality.
The trial referred to in the report for 2003 with 100 agricultural tractors running on pure vegetable oil finished in September 2005. The results show that tractors will run reliably on pure vegetable oil only if they are converted with suitable systems and that the use of a consistently high quality of vegetable oil is an important precondition for fault-free operation of the vehicles. This is why a Quality Standard for pure vegetable oil used as fuel is now in preparation in Germany, to be introduced as preliminary standard DIN 51605. With the aim of further developing vegetable oil technology in the tractors sector the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection has since the start of 2006 been promoting a project together with the University of Rostock and the firms of John Deere Mannheim and Vereinigte Pflanzenöl Werkstätten, Allersberg, to develop a tractor designed to run ex works on vegetable oil and meeting the latest emission standards. The first results are promising.

The UK

Pure plant oil (PPO) (or Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)), in contrast to waste vegetable oil, is not a byproduct of other industries, and thus its prospects for use as fuel are not limited by the capacities of other industries. Production of vegetable oils for use as fuels is theoretically limited only by the agricultural capacity of a given economy.
The UK exported 280 000 tonnes of rapeseed in 2005. If the UK used just its set aside land it could reach its 5% biofuel target without the need for exotic and environmentally damaging oil crop imports.

Bulgaria

There is developed production of biofuel on the basis of vegetable oils in different regions of Bulgaria. Such experience there is for instance in Veliko Tarnovo, Kostenez, etc.
The production of vegetable seeds for the production of oils amounts to more than 1000000 tons per year at this time in Bulgaria. Only some experilental work on the SVO application as engine fueladdition could be mentioned. There is intention for further SVO fuel application and delopment in Bulgaria.
There is not information for selling by stations of vegetable oils as fuels in Bulgaria.
There is not any stimulating laws in Bulgaria for direct using of vegetable oils as fuels.
There is only permission for the use of 5 % of biofuels as additives to conventional fuels in accordance with EN590 standard, etc.

The Netherlands

Exemption from excise duty was granted in 2005, to three projects relating to pure plant oil PPO). In the context of these programmes, it was permitted to place a total of 7 million litres of rapeseed oil on the market exempt from excise duty of EUR 0.365 per litre; this possibility was not fully exploited. It is estimated that between 2 and 4 million litres of PPO were placed on the transport fuel market in 2005.

Portugal

Only some private users are introducing pure plant oil into diesel ICEs.

Hungary

Freight transport companies used cooking oil from Ukraine in their old diesel trucks, but this was illegal (excise tax on fuels was avoided) and tax commandos started hunting them down going after the distinct "french fries" smell. Otherwise non-existent.

Slovenia

PPO is used only by some individuals in their adapted diesel vehicles. However, in 2008 first public refueling point with PPO was established with two more to be built in two largest Slovenian cities. First PPO refueling station is build near waste vegetable oil collecting and recycling point.

SVO/PPO Pure Plant Oil

INTRO

COUNTRY SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Further Reading