A new study by the University of Idaho and the United States Department of Agriculture has found that biodiesel produces more than four times the energy required to manufacture it, Heavy Duty Trucking reported.
According to the research, every unit of fossil fuel used in biodiesel production generates 4.5 units of energy in return. The study highlights that biodiesel made from soybean oil delivers a strong energy balance because the crop itself is grown using solar energy.
Joe Jobe, Chief Executive Officer of the National Biodiesel Board, said the findings reinforce confidence in biodiesel’s environmental and social benefits. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency should consider these results when assessing biodiesel’s greenhouse gas reductions.
The EPA, in its proposed rule to implement the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard, relied on 2005 baseline data for petroleum and biodiesel to estimate carbon impacts over the next 22 years. Jobe said the agency should also recognise that biodiesel production is becoming more efficient, while oil exploration and drilling are growing more intensive.
Researchers identified several factors contributing to biodiesel’s improving energy performance. These include higher soybean yields due to new seed varieties and better farm management practices. Farmers have also reduced soil cultivation, cutting the amount of fuel required to grow soybeans. Modern soybean varieties require fewer pesticides, and processing facilities have improved their energy efficiency.
Dev Shrestha, assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Idaho, said the study shows steady progress in making biodiesel production more renewable. He noted that farmers, soybean processors and biodiesel producers are increasingly adopting practices that rely less on fossil fuels and improve overall efficiency, leading to stronger energy returns.
