Study claims biodiesel reduces carbon

FleetOwner.com
Mar 26, 2009 11:36 AM

LOUISVILLE. A new study by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and Chicago-based Indigenous Energy, LLC, developers of emissions tracking systems, claims that using soybean-based biodiesel can reduce carbon emissions by 78% compared to petroleum-based diesel alone on a life cycle basis – despite the fact that burning one gallon of either fuel produces almost the exact same amount of carbon dioxide (CO2).

The key is in the “life cycle” component of the calculation, according to Peter Probst, president and director of research & development of Indigenous Energy. Though one gallon of soybean-based biodiesel emits 21.2 pounds of (CO2) when burned – a hair less than the 22.2 pounds released when burning a gallon of 100% petroleum-based diesel –it’s the growth history of the amount of plant matter going into the biodiesel that accounts for that 78% reduction, he said.

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