Springboard Biodiesel announced March 25 that it has been selected to provide its turn-key, small-scale biodiesel processing system to Bagram Airfield in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan.

Springboard Biodiesel’s BioPro 380EX and SpringPro T76 comprise a small-scale biodiesel processing system designed to inexpensively convert the base’s used cooking oil (UCO) into ASTM-grade biodiesel that can then be used in diesel vehicles on base.

“Springboard is excited to provide this made-in-the-USA, clean technology solution to the U.S. military,” said Springboard Biodiesel CEO Mark Roberts. “In Afghanistan, the fully burdened cost of diesel fuel is extremely high. We’ve heard estimates north of $10 per gallon. The BioPro systems made by Springboard will enable the base to produce high-quality biodiesel fuel for less than $1 per gallon—not to mention, biodiesel made from used cooking oil burns up to 90 percent cleaner than regular diesel.”

Springboard Biodiesel has worked with a large number of institutions that have access to UCO. “We refer to these groups as ‘Captive Kitchens,’” Roberts said, “meaning that as a natural consequence of their mission, they cook for large groups of people—schools, restaurants, hotels, prisons, casinos and, of course, military bases, where there is the added element of fuel security. Making a cleaner-burning fuel, safely and inexpensively on-site, gives these groups a huge advantage. We’re hopeful that the success of Bagram’s small-scale biodiesel production initiative will resonate with other bases that want to copy the model.”

Springboard Biodiesel has been building automated, small-scale biodiesel production systems since 2008 and has more than 1,000 of its systems operating in all 50 states and now in 24 countries. The company estimates that the cumulative biodiesel production capacity enabled by its systems surpasses 7.5 MMgy, which results in a CO2 emissions reduction of approximately145 million pounds annually.