strretch
Veteran Member
I've been thinking a lot today about local biodiesel co-ops and how they work. We all know that there are a few different ways of getting hold of biodiesel:
(1) Buy it from a pump at a station.
(2) Buy it in bulk from a distributor.
(3) Get the supplies and make it yourself.
What are the pros and cons of each of these?
Item (1):
Pros are: Convenient if you live near the pump. Reliable source of well-made biodiesel.
Cons are: Pumps are few and far between. Prices are high compared to dino diesel or self-production.
Item (2):
Pros are: Convenient, since you're pumping from your own yard. You cut out the middle man.
Cons are: You have to have a large tank before some distributors want to return your phone calls.
Item (3):
Pros are: Cheap if you can find decent WVO or SVO at a good price (or free).
Cons are: You have to invest the time and money in equipment and supplies and mess around with nasty chemicals.
I'm becoming more and more convinced that due to lack of competition/demand, there is a lot of price gouging going on in biodiesel production, since people seem to pay what they are charged. Besides that, the amateur scientist in me really wants to get my hands dirty on the weekends and try my hand at making the stuff, even though I have no experience at it. So, Item (3) is looking more appealing to me.
Here's my question: What if there were a co-op based on production and not investment in a distributor?
The co-op wouldn't have to be large. A few people could share the costs/labor involved in the production of a 55-gal tank, for example. Then they could grow from there if need be. What I don't know is: How much time and money and manpower does it take to produce a 55-gal. drum of biodiesel?
One of the reasons I was thinking about this is that I noticed a flyer from a student club at U. Colorado Boulder a few weeks ago while visiting there, where they make biodiesel from the fryer oil at the campus grill. If students and faculty are willing to get together to do this sort of thing on the weekend, why couldn't several locals?
Okay. Questions? Comments? Flames?
-Brian
(1) Buy it from a pump at a station.
(2) Buy it in bulk from a distributor.
(3) Get the supplies and make it yourself.
What are the pros and cons of each of these?
Item (1):
Pros are: Convenient if you live near the pump. Reliable source of well-made biodiesel.
Cons are: Pumps are few and far between. Prices are high compared to dino diesel or self-production.
Item (2):
Pros are: Convenient, since you're pumping from your own yard. You cut out the middle man.
Cons are: You have to have a large tank before some distributors want to return your phone calls.
Item (3):
Pros are: Cheap if you can find decent WVO or SVO at a good price (or free).
Cons are: You have to invest the time and money in equipment and supplies and mess around with nasty chemicals.
I'm becoming more and more convinced that due to lack of competition/demand, there is a lot of price gouging going on in biodiesel production, since people seem to pay what they are charged. Besides that, the amateur scientist in me really wants to get my hands dirty on the weekends and try my hand at making the stuff, even though I have no experience at it. So, Item (3) is looking more appealing to me.
Here's my question: What if there were a co-op based on production and not investment in a distributor?
The co-op wouldn't have to be large. A few people could share the costs/labor involved in the production of a 55-gal tank, for example. Then they could grow from there if need be. What I don't know is: How much time and money and manpower does it take to produce a 55-gal. drum of biodiesel?
One of the reasons I was thinking about this is that I noticed a flyer from a student club at U. Colorado Boulder a few weeks ago while visiting there, where they make biodiesel from the fryer oil at the campus grill. If students and faculty are willing to get together to do this sort of thing on the weekend, why couldn't several locals?
Okay. Questions? Comments? Flames?
-Brian