How to Get the Best Biodiesel

Every fuel wholesaler, retailer and fleet wants the best biodiesel for the best price. But how do you find that? How about the best producer? The best supplier? The best quality? Here’s a guide to help you find the best biodiesel.

What is the best feedstock to create biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a biofuel that’s primarily made from renewable resources like animal fats, distillers corn oil, recycled cooking oil and vegetable oils. Many people are under the assumption that soybean oil is the best feedstock to make biodiesel. So you may be surprised to learn that the original feedstock has little to no impact on the quality of the final product. The secret to creating the best and highest quality biodiesel is actually in the purification process. Thanks to the proprietary pretreatment and superior production process of Chevron Renewable Energy Group, we can take lower-cost feedstocks with higher contaminants and refine them into a clean, pure biodiesel product.

What is the best way to produce biodiesel?

The key to producing exceptional biodiesel is having state-of-the-art production facilities, skilled and experienced staff, and the ability to use a variety of feedstocks. That last item is known as feedstock flexibility. Why is it so important? Feedstock flexibility offers a variety of benefits:

  • Predictable pricing and availability: When prices rise or supply runs low on a certain feedstock, a multi-feedstock refinery can more easily switch to an alternative material without negatively impacting the finished product.
  • Get feedstocks’ best properties: High-tech producers can combine various feedstocks to capture the best properties from each fuel to create the perfect “recipe” for a fuel with the specifications customers want.
  • Lower carbon intensity scores: Feedstock flexibility also allows producers to use feedstocks with lower carbon intensity. Lower carbon intensity means it is better for the environment, and in states like California and Oregon, has monetary value.

What is distilled biodiesel, and why do some users consider it the best?

Distillation is a purification process that, in biodiesel production, does a great job of removing components that can contribute to filter plugging. Distilled biodiesel offers several advantages:

  • Superior cold weather performance
  • The potential for lower carbon intensity scores
  • The ability to use multiple feedstocks to achieve more consistent prices and results

How can I find the best biodiesel supplier?

Look for a supplier that provides a full range of products, including biodiesel blends, B100 and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Also, take into account how they move product — via truck, rail, ship, barge, etc. — and the extent of their terminal network.

Whether you intend to use an existing supplier or are looking for a new one, here are some biodiesel-related questions to ask:

  • How long have they been producing and/or marketing biodiesel?
  • Does the biodiesel producer take part in the biodiesel industry’s BQ-9000® quality assurance accreditation program?
  • Can they provide a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) with each load?
  • Does the biodiesel producer meet ASTM D6751 specifications?

Don't forget value-added support that goes beyond the sales team. That includes logistics and supply chain management as well as regulatory expertise and technical support.

What is the best biodiesel vehicle?

Any diesel engine can safely run on biodiesel blends without any modifications needed. Nearly 90 percent of medium- and heavy-duty truck original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) already support B20. In fact, at the recent National Biodiesel Conference, Ford, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and John Deere all spoke about their companies’ support for biodiesel blends.

“Biodiesel is very easy to use. It’s a drop-in fuel. You don’t have to have special infrastructure," said Patti Earley, former president for NAFA Fleet Management Association.

Get the best

When you’re searching for how to purchase and use the best biodiesel, these are the answers. Get the best from Chevron Renewable Energy Group: Learn about the benefits of Chevron Renewable Energy Group's Biodiesel, InfiniD™.

 

 

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