What is Bio-Fuel ? – Part 1 The Science Bit

The introduction of bio-liquids into the home heating and cooking markets creates opportunities for a cleaner, sustainable future for the liquid fuelled industry.

What is Bio-Liquid

Bio- liquid suitable for use in the home heating market are commonly Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) derived from either used cooking oil or virgin plant sources such as Rapeseed and Soya, etc. grown especially for this purpose.

The use of FAME in liquid fuels creates overall carbon reductions in lifecycle analysis of emissions when compared to the use of traditional mineral (fossil) fuels such as kerosene or gas oil. This is as a result of the carbon absorbed by the plant during its lifecycle offsetting carbon emissions from the combustion process.

Producing FAME from used cooking oils gives a higher carbon saving to that of virgin plant stock.

FAME for heating purposes should meet the requirements of EN 14213 (EN 14214 for automotive use can be considered to be a higher standard but some tests requirements from EN 14213 will be required to be satisfied before use) and be produced under strict quality assurance systems to achieve consistent quality and properties of the fuel.

FAME to EN 14213 can either be used as part of a blend with mineral fuels such as kerosene or gas oil or even in its pure form as a 100% bio-liquid fuel with bespoke equipment.