California receives Austrian delegation on waste oil-to-energy options as Berkeley turns back on soy biodiesel

In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Austrian Minister of Environmental Affairs, Nikolaus Berlakovich, met in Santa Monica to discuss cooperation of the two governments in the areas of environment and reduction of green house gas emissions. Klaus Ruhmer of BDI-BioDiesel International AG, travelled with Minister Berlakovich to outline some of the latest advances on how to convert waste-oil to biodiesel.

“BDI has pioneered BioDiesel processing almost 20 years ago” said Ruhmer.  ”BDI’s Multi-Feedstock BioDiesel Technology is capable of converting heavily contaminated waste oils into high quality biodiesel which can be used pure or blended with petroleum diesel. This is specifically interesting for local governments and municipalities who operate waste water treatment plants and sewage infrastructure. Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) represent the single largest reason for sewage system issues such as overflow and blockage which in turn lead to high maintenance cost ultimately covered by local residents and businesses.”

The company is a leading technology supplier in multi-feedstock biodiesel plants. Biodiesel manufactured from waste vegetable oils is a pathway that meets EPA proposed rules for the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The BDI meeting comes as biodiesel comes under increasing scrutiny in California and other western states. The city of Berkeley recently voted to end a six-year program of using soy biodiesel in its municipal vehicles. The city’s  Community Environmental Advisory Commission had recommended that the city modify its policy on biofuels. Previously, the city had  used waste veggie oils, but these has been swapped for soy-based biodiesel, which had received increasingly bad publicity over  sustainability concerns in recent months.

According to Dr. Nabil Al-Hadithy in the Toxic Management Division at the City of Berkeley, “CEAC recommended at least 5% improvement on petroleum. So, in essence, the City should not use petroleum. Berkeley wants to use fuel from waste.”

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