BCD project launched

Q1 2011 saw the introduction of the Biodiesel Crop Demonstration Project (BDC) in Hawaii – a move that should increase the island's energy security.

Neil Abercrombie implemented the oilseed crop research project, which is a two-year joint venture between Pacific Biodiesel, the US Marine Corps, the US Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center and Army Installation Management Command, Pacific.

Following the programme's implementation, the next stage is to employ consultants and project managers to identify ideal regions on which oilseed crops can be cultivated before being processed into biodiesel. So far Maui and central parts of Oahu look suitable locations to grow short-term crops such as sunflower or safflower.

'We're looking at planting 100-day crops where, from start to finish, we could have biodiesel in 120 to 130 says,' Kelly King, VP of Pacific Biodiesel, explains. 'Our goal is to show how quickly we could have fuel starting at zero.'

Pacific Biodiesel, which is currently building a biodiesel production plant in Hawaii, hopes to convert the oils from the crops grown as part of the programme into methyl esters at the plant, once building work has finished and it is operational.