September 1, 2006—Green Star Products, Inc. (GSPI), will build the first biodiesel plant to emit almost zero net global warming gases (GWG) (CO2) from direct plant production of biodiesel. Green Star points out that the use of biodiesel fuel in diesel engines will reduce CO2 global warming gases by 78% on a life-cycle basis.
However, notes Green Star, the biodiesel plants that produce biodiesel do emit GWG because they require heating input usually from natural gas, which is not renewable and emits CO2, and they also require electricity from local utilities, which emit CO2, and finally the chemical processes uses 10% methanol (wood alcohol) usually supplied from sources outside the US and made from natural gas, all of which add to global warming and are net renewable.
The GSPI Consortium considered the elimination of all these factors in the design of their new biodiesel plant; the first of several is located in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. This, says GSPI, would make the Idaho plant the first biodiesel plant in the world to operate at close to zero net CO2 emissions.
GSPI says that if this type of plant had been built in countries that have signed the Kyoto Treaty, it would be eligible for significant additional CO2 credits, which are now traded on world markets.
For more information visit the Green Star Products Web site.
