February 29, 2008

US biodiesel plant finds alternative ingredient for biofuel production

A biodiesel plant based in Cleveland in Ohio may have found an alternative to grains in the production of biofuel, according to a report from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a daily newspaper of the US state Ohio.

The biodiesel plant in question has been refitting its machines to produce biofuel from pig fats, which comes from a nearby rendering plant.

John Stamsel, president of the biodiesel plant said soy oil is unprofitable, as feedstock accounts for up to 90 percent of production costs, which is the result of skyrocketing grain prices.

Pig fat will not be the solution for all biodiesel plants, according to the report. Several older facilities can't be refitted to take other feedstocks, and animal-fat requires an extra production step.

The high price of soy has also led to the farmers planting more acres, which should eventually bring prices down, said the report.