New biodiesel facility for Cowichan Valley

In British Columbia, Canada, a commercial-scale biodiesel plant has been officially opened, following a grand opening ceremony on 27 July 2011.

Based in the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, the new plant will enable the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-operative to supply biodiesel from locally sourced feedstocks.

Previously, the co-op was providing its customers with cooking oil-derived biodiesel that had come from elsewhere. However, the introduction of the new biodiesel processor will see Cowichan Bio-Diesel collect waste cooking oil from nearby homes and restaurants itself, before converting it into biodiesel.

As the co-op explains, it will 'close the sustainable fuels loop in the Cowichan Valley'.