BIOFUELS, NON-EDIBLE OILS, AND FATS

The use of bio-oils and biofuels in the automotive industry will continue to increase in the coming decades, despite the controversies surrounding them. Liquid energy cannot be fully replaced by other renewable energy sources, and oil-based fuels will still be necessary for aircraft, cargo ships, and diesel engines for electricity generation.

Fats of animal origin can be used in some applications, but the need and tendency for purer forms of biofuels will always be in high demand.

However, it is important to use raw materials for bio-oil production that do not compete with the food supply chain. Appropriate raw materials are those that, for example due to their toxicity, are not used in the production of edible oils. The following oilseeds are therefore suitable for the production of non-edible oils: Jatropha, Castor, Colza (rapeseed), Flax seed, Camelina, and a few other minor plants.

As with edible oils, it is important to extract as much non-edible oil as possible from the oilseed feedstock. A higher price for biofuels compared to fossil fuels evokes resistance from users. Product prices are such, that even if even 5% of the oil content is spoilt profits can be really damaged. So, it is worth the extra investment to achieve the higher performance to maximise profit potential. In the emerging market of biofuels, we often see oil extraction lines with only mechanical press installations. An optimally flocked product can easily yield a profit of 3-5% here.