Biodiesel
Biodiesel, also known as FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esther), belongs to the category of fuels made from renewable sources of energy, mainly of agricultural origin, and is used in diesel engines. FAME is an ecological fuel, which contributes to reduction of CO2 emissions in the athmosphere.
It is most often produced through a chemical process - transesterification of vegetable oils. The final product is made using:
- pure rapessed oil, the product is then called rapeseed methyl ester (RME)
- a mixture of oils, in this case the product is called FAME.
The composition of oils from which FAME is made is determined by the plant’s production technology and raw materials accessibility. The main component of the mixture is in our conditions always rapeseed oil. Other types of raw materials which can enter into production are:
- sunflower oil
- palm oil
- used cooking oil (UCO)
- animal fats
The utilization of biodiesel in the EU conditions varies, depending on the legislative requirements of individual member states. Generally, the usage options are:
- as a low-percentage addition to fossil fuel - the final mixture contains max. 7% of biodiesel, in compliance with the European norm EN 590
- as a high-percentage addition of fossil fuels (30%), used and conventionally accessible e.g. at filling stations in the Czech Republic (as SMN30)
- pure FAME as 100% substitution of fossil diesel
In the three biodiesel plants of our group - Meroco, Rossi Biofuel and Biodizel Vukovar, Envien Biopaliwa Polska - we produce over
475.000 tons of biodiesel per year
