Tallow esters and vegetable oils as alternative diesel fuels—A review of the New Zealand programme

Abstract

A long term research programme investigating the production, processing and utilization of triglyceride oils/fats as diesel fuel substitutes has recently been completed. Vegetable oils and animal fats when converted into esters have been conclusively shown to be technically suitable for use as fuels for compression ignition engines. They can be blended with diesel fuel at any level or used neat. Conversion into esters is a simple chemical process which can be carried out on a small or large scale. Current values of crude oil at around US$20/barrel make it an uneconomic proposition to produce and process vegetable oils for fuel purposes. In the longer term if and when oil prices rise again, the use of vegetable oil fuels may become an economically viable option. In the meantime research programmes continue in countries aiming to utilize surplus rural land and in those wishing to become independent of unreliable oil product imports.