What are biofuels?

They are fuels created using vegetables or composts of animal origin (lipids).

What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a biodegradable fuel derived from renewable sources which substitutes, totally or partially, the diesel oil in internal combustion of diesel cycle engines.

What is biodiesel made out of?

It can be made from animal fat or vegetable oil. There are several types of vegetable species in Brazil that can be used such as soy, castor, palm, sunflower, babassu, peanut, and others.

How is biodiesel produced?

Transesterification is the most common process currently used in the biodiesel production. It is a process that mixes raw oil, a reactant (ethanol or methane) and a catalyst (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) in order to remove glycerin, paraffin, grease, etc.

Is pure biodiesel used?

It is mixed with traditional diesel fuel. Currently the mixture is optional. It will be required in Brazil in 2008, when all of the diesel fuel sold must have at least 2% biodiesel. The percentage will increase to 5% in 2013.

What do you call the mixture of biodiesel with diesel fuel?

- A 2% mixture is called B@ (2% biodiesel and 98% diesel fuel).

- For the B25% (25% biodiesel and 75% diesel fuel).

- B100 (100% biodiesel).

What are the advantages of biodiesel?

Biodiesel will generate significant savings for Brazil in oil imports. It can substitute diesel fuel in the generation and supply of electricity for isolated communities that currently depend on diesel fueled generators. It provides more farm jobs in the production of raw materials, promoting social inclusion. Its commercial use promotes technological improvement accelerating the learning curve and strengthening the domestic manufacturing and agricultural sectors. It preserves the environment and contributes to the improvement of the air quality in large urban centers, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

Are there performance differences in vehicles that use biodiesel?

In a B5 mixture (5% biodiesel and 95% diesel fuel) it is practically impossible to observe any performance differences in relation to pure diesel fuel.

How much will it cost to the consumer?

Since the production of biodiesel is small, its cost is high. For it to have the same price as diesel fuel (subsidized), it requires government incentives and/or larger production scale and improvement of the production process. 

Can any vehicle use biofuel?

No. Only vehicles with a diesel engine.

Does any country already use biodiesel?

Germany is responsible for half of the European production. In France biodiesel is already available mixed with diesel fuel. The mixture percentage should reach 5.75% by 2010. In the United States biodiesel is produced from soy and corn. Other major producers  are Italy, Denmark, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

What is the Agrale equipment?

A line of engines and tractors for family agriculture that runs on biodiesel. The equipment was developed to operate with a B5 biodiesel (5% biodiesel and 95% diesel fuel) mixture from palm castor, soy and other.

Why is this program being developed?

The Agrale project for manufacturing small engines and tractors that run on biofuel has been developed for 3 years. The objective of the company is to be ahead of the demands of this product to attend family agriculture. By manufacturing engines and tractors that use this clean fuel, the company collaborates with the preservation of the environment and contributes with the Brazilian government in the initiative of developing alternative fuel sources and expand Brazilian agribusiness, since Brazil has excellent conditions for the production of biodiesel.

What is this line of tractors?

Developed for small and medium farms, the line includes several models that have 14.7hp to 30hp of power and have low maintenance and operational cost.

Does the Agrale engines line also run on biodiesel?

The Agrale engines, generators, and motor-pumps also use biodiesel fuel.

Why is Agrale working with this technology?

Agrale is part of the Federal Government’s program to diversify energy sources and to develop agribusiness, especially family agriculture and the ecological fuel programs.

Do these tractors and engines only run on Biodiesel?

The equipment can run on pure diesel of B5 biodiesel.

Who are Agrale’s partners in this program?

Agrale partners are the Ministry of Science and Technology, Finep (Research and Project Financing – a government agency connected to the Ministry of Science and Technology) and the University of Caxias do Sul in the biodiesel project.

“The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and can help considerably with the development of agriculture in countries where it operates. This seems like a dream of the future, but I can predict with full conviction that this use of the diesel engine can, at a given time, become very important." Rudolph Diesel (1911)