First Ship Engine Runs on Rapeseed Oil in Iceland

автор Admin Пн Апр 28, 2008 4:19 am

A ship engine was powered entirely by rapeseed oil for
the first time in Iceland this week. The project was undertaken by the
research and development department of the Icelandic Maritime
Administration in cooperation with N1 fuel company.

The project is part of an initiative launched by
Iceland’s Ministry of Transport entitled “Environmentally Friendly
Energy Sources,” 24 Stundir reports.

Research on plants viable for biofuel production that
can be grown in Iceland show that rapeseed may be best suited for such
purposes.

According to Jón Bernódusson, an engineer at the
Icelandic Maritime Administration, rapeseed would only be grown in
areas where it does not compete with grain and plants used for food
production.

Bernódusson said 1,500 liters of biodiesel can be
produced from every hectare of a rapeseed field. It could be used to
power Iceland’s entire fleet of ships as well as all cars that have a
diesel engine. “Biodiesel has the same characteristics as normal diesel
and therefore the engines will not have to be changed.”

Bernódusson explained that growing rapeseed for energy
production has other advantages too. “It would offset carbon dioxide
because it needs carbon to grow. Rapeseed farming could prove an
excellent opportunity for farmers who have land to spare.”

“When the oil has been pressed from the rapeseeds, the
remains are used for protain rich animal feed for cattle, pigs and even
cod like they do in cod farms in Norway,” Bernódusson said, adding that
it could also potentially be used for food for humans.
IcelandReview